Robert O. Hatch

Robert (Bob) Hatch (1950-2024) passed away the Morning of July 16, 2024, after a valiant battle with Cancer. Bob was surrounded by Family and loved ones at the time of his passing. Bob was born in Las Vegas, Nevada but was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico following his Father’s job moves with Fish and Wildlife in Refuge Management.Bob graduated with a degree in Limnology at New Mexico State University then set upon a career in Chemistry. He met Karen, his wife as his Travel Agent in Gresham Oregon and married in 1984. After they married, they held Corporate jobs in Chicago. After successworking for established Chemical Companies on the West coast and Midwest, Bob ventured out on his own starting KABO Chemicals in 1991. KABO Chemicals supplied important processing chemicals to the Sugar and Mining industries as well as agribusiness and bio-fermentation. By 2002, Bob and Karen sold KABO and established American Charcoal Company serving the Sugar Cane industry, which still operates today. In 2005 and 2006, Bob served as Chairman of Sugar Processing Research Institute (SPRI) located at the USDA Southern Research Center in New Orleans. The Organization would later award him with the SPRI Science and Technology award in 2016. In 2007 Bob established Organic Defoamer Group (ODG) which once again supplied products to the sugar and mining industries. After 10 Years Bob and Karen sold the Company, but Bob continued to support the sugar industry organizations: American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists President 2017-2019, Sugar Industry Technologists, Sugar Processing Research Institute, American Sugar Alliance, European Society of Sugar Technologists and the International Sugar Association. Bob and Karen have been residents of Jackson since 1990 belonging to Jackson Golf and tennis Club. Bob is also a member of Cheyenne Country Club and Desert Mountain Country Club. He has enjoyed so many wonderful and meaningful friendships at these Clubs. One of Bob’s favorite things was to take group Family trips to far away places with Children and Grandchildren. He taught them to always see the best in People and situations. He will bemissed by Family, Friends and Colleague’s. Bob is survived by his Wife Karen (Karlen) Hatch, his Son Ryan Hatch and Daughter in law Heather (Puterbaugh) Hatch, Daughter Kim (Radke) Korum, Heidi (Radke) Giles and Son in law Craig Giles along with 7 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents Louis and Marie Hatch and Sister Jackie (Hatch) Schmidle. A Celebration of life will take place in late September in Jackson.