Robert "Bob" Eugene Gillham

Robert “Bob” Eugene Gillham, 68, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at his home in Arvada, surrounded by close family after a tough but valiant battle with Leukemia. Born in the small town of Sidney, Nebraska, in 1951, Bob grew up in the small northern Colorado town of Peetz, where he worked on the family farm with his parents, Eva & Robert, and four siblings. He attended Peetz School and was a dedicated Boy Scout, eventually achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. After high school, he attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling before transferring to Colorado State University in Fort Collins. An avid skier, he spent his free time on the mountain with his brother, Lloyd. He would eventually pass his passion for racing down the mountain on to his two daughters, though they both broke his heart a little bit when they switched to snowboarding. Eventually graduating from CSU with a degree in business, Bob made the decision to stray further from the farm, moving to Arvada in 1975 where he would serendipitously find an apartment next door to Mary Lou, the woman who would eventually become his wife. Bob and Mary Lou were married in 1980 and would have three children together: Melissa, Christina and Greg. When their kids were young, they took them on long road trips to national landmarks like Mount Rushmore and Las Vegas. As they grew older, Bob took the family on trips to Disneyland and to see the ocean in California. He worked for a number of different companies over the years including Head Sports, where he was able to celebrate his love of tennis, skiing and scuba diving, before eventually landing as an accountant in the Aerospace industry. He was passionate about his work and proud to work for United Launch Alliance. Known for his signature style of jeans, Hawaiian shirt and gentlemen’s cap, Bob loved exploring new places and experiencing new things. He loved visiting the ocean, seeing live music and plays, and discovering new restaurants with his longtime friend, Dennis. He loved his job, and would talk for hours about the details of the next shuttle launch. But his first love was always his family. A devoted husband and father, Bob seemed to find his true calling in life when he became a grandfather. Spending time with his grandchildren brought him endless joy, and just the mention of them brought a smile to his face. Bob is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; his daughter, Melissa, and her husband, Adam; his daughter, Christina; his son, Greg, and his wife, Barbara; his grandchildren Monika, Daniel and Georgie; his brother, Lloyd, and his wife, Carol; his sister, Kathy, and her husband, Dale; his brother, Gary, and his wife, Patti; and his brother, Keith, and his wife, Carolyn. His memorial service is planned for Friday, January 31 at 11am at Spirit Of Christ Catholic Church. 7400 W. 80th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. www.lls.org