Robert L. Einarsen

Robert, or Bob Einarsen, of Norwegian, Swedish and German ancestry was born to Albert and Pauline Einarsen on January 3rd of 1930. He grew up on and worked his parents farm at 38th and Kipling in Wheatridge, with his two brothers Chuck and Harold until he left for college.

Active in football, baseball, and basketball for Wheatridge High, he ended up marrying his high school sweetheart, Nancy Stevens. She actually first asked him out in Junior High to a Sadie Hawkins Dance. They were married on December 23rd,1950 and reached almost 64 years of marriage, when Nancy died three days before their anniversary. They had three children, John, Sue Ellen and Jim.

Bob received a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the School of Mines in 1951, and later, a Masters Degree in Science from Oregon College in Corvallis, with his young family with him. Moving back to Denver, he got his first teaching job for the Denver Public Schools at West High, teaching math and science. He ended up spending most of his career teaching at Lincoln High School, where he taught Physics and Geology to thousands of students. He also spent part of many summers and weekends working for the USGS Water Resources Department measuring streams all over Colorado.

Bob and Nancy were dedicated to family vacations, taking long camping trips in Colorado or traveling to other magnificent states and beyond. After they both retired, they traveled all over, going as far as Antarctica. More and more they began to spend their time at their beloved cabin in South Park—hiking in the aspens, cross-country skiing, and hosting friends and relatives. Bob also volunteered at the Denver Museum of Natural History, where he helped put together the skeleton of the T Rex that is the centerpiece of the museum's lobby.

Bob loved any kind of sport, trout fishing in the mountains, and pointing out any geological feature to anyone who would listen. He also loved playing bridge and other card games with many different circles of friends and family. He was a gardener, growing food and flowers. The garden he planted for his family was one of kindness, with lessons given with patience, humility, adventure, fun, and laughter.

Bob was a sincere volunteer by nature, whether helping neighbors, at his church, at nursing homes or with whatever opportunity presented itself to help others. He enthusiastically volunteered to help rebuild houses destroyed by the hurricane in Mississippi and by tornados in Kansas with fellow members of Phillips United Methodist Church, his nearly life-long place of worship.

He was presented with the Volunteers Award for the Jefferson-Como Fire Department in 1996. And, in 1997, he received a truly great honor—Volunteer of the Year Award from the Colorado Health Association for his many years of work at the Villa Manor Care Center. He traveled, with Nancy to Tennessee to personally receive this award. Both Bob and Nancy also fought for water rights for their community in South Park.

What comes to mind when all of us who knew Bob think about him? Almost immediately we agree that first and foremost he was a "good man." What does it really mean when we invoke this expression? We know deep down what a "good man" is—someone like Bob, who is honest to the core, hard-working, decent, fair, a good neighbor, devoted to family, unselfish, and always ready to pitch in to help others in need.

He left this world on December 7th, after choosing to not intervene with heroic efforts when he knew it was his time. He passed in dignity, with his son Jim and daughter Susie at his side. He told his nurses: "I am ready to go, I have earned my angel wings," and, also, that he wanted to "join Nancy on their bench."

He had missed her deeply the long years that he bravely continued on in life without her.

Many of Bob's friends, colleagues, family, and relatives are gone now. Still, he is survived by his three children; two daughters-in-law, Midori and Chrissi; a son-in-law, Bira, his grandson Sage; two sisters-in-law (Nan & Nan); and many nephews and nieces and grand nephews and nieces. He will be remembered with much love and appreciation for who he was, by those who were fortunate to have him close.

There will be a Memorial service held at Phillips United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 19th, 2022 at 11:00 am.1450 S. Pierce St. Lakewood, Co.

If you'd like to make a donation in memory of Robert Einarsen, you may make it to:
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver
send to 3245 Eliot Street
Denver, CO. 80211
or donate online at www.habitatmetrodenver.org/donate