Robert Bruce Flanders was born in Independence, Missouri, January 31, 1930, and died in Springfield, Missouri, December 28, 2021, with family at his side. Loving husband to Sally Harding Flanders for 68 years, the two met while students at Graceland College. Flanders earned a BA, MA, and PhD in history from the University of Wisconsin. His doctoral thesis was published as a book, Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi. It quickly became a foundational work in the modern field of Mormon historical studies, and has remained continuously in print since its 1965 publication. He became a founding member of the John Whitmer Historical Association. Flanders was professor of history at Graceland College, the Ohio State University, Mansfield, and for 27 years at Missouri State University, where he served as chair of the department of history for nearly a decade. At Missouri State, he founded and directed the Center for Ozarks Studies. Its journal OzarksWatch is still being published. He produced “Sassafras,” a path-breaking multimedia program on Ozarks life and culture in the late 1970s. He then created and executive-produced two documentary films, winners of both the CINE Golden Eagle Award and a Blue Ribbon at the American Film Festival: “Portrait of the Ozarks Parts I and II”—“Shannon County: Home,” and “Shannon County: Hearts of the Children.” Both films can be viewed on YouTube, courtesy of Missouri State University. Flanders served for many years with the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, writing numerous nominations for Missouri landmarks to be selected for the National Register of Historic Places—notably the Gillioz Theater. Flanders was a longtime devoted member the Rotary Club of Springfield and of the Chancel Choir at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church. Robert Flanders is preceded in death by father Roland and mother Lillian. He is survived by wife Sally, sister Nancy, daughters Stephanie, Christie (with son-in-law Trent Eastman), and son Todd (with daughter-in-law Jane); and grandchildren John Paul, Jacob, Elijah, Joshua, Peter, and Beata. Beloved husband, brother, father and grandfather, he lives now in Christ and in our hearts. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2022, online via Zoom at https://us05web.zoom.us/j/81902785295?pwd=emVwcmdiaXlnaGU5Wi9pUkJrcW0xQT09 The public is invited. The Meeting ID is: 819 0278 5295 and the Passcode is: e3JfLv In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial offerings to First and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Missouri. .