Robert E. Holwell

Bob is survived by his loving family, including his daughter Marilyn, his son Michael, Michael’s wife Dorene, his daughter Jan and her husband Rod, his son Galen and his wife Randi; his son in law Dana and his grandchildren Shane, Lance, Heidi, Trenton, Ryan, Clinton, Drea, Jay, Heather, Justin, Tyler and Trista; 25 great grandchildren with one on the way and 2 great-great grandchildren!

Bob is preceded in death by his beloved wife Jackie and their daughter April Black and by his son in law, Ron Slayton.

Bob graduated from Stanford University in 1941 and was commissioned as a second Lieutenant at the time and assigned to the Pentagon to serve.

It was there that he met the love of his life, Jackie Bass who was also working at the Pentagon. They dated and then got married in Silver Springs, Maryland on April 13th, 1942. Bob served in the army until 1946 and was discharged at the rank of Captain.

Bob took a position at Gates Rubber Company as a purchasing agent 1953 and in 1954 Bob was assigned with developing the Canadian market for Gates Rubber Company.

Returning to Denver in 1958 Bob was promoted to Gates Chief Engineer and traveled internationally. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1968 and in 1980 he was promoted to president of Gates Rubber Company until his retirement I 1982. Bob was, at the time, the first person to serve as president of the company that was not a member of the Gates family.

Bob enjoyed golf, fly fishing, bird hunting, and an entertaining, active social life for many years and was happy to wrap up the day with a Rob Roy, a Manhattan or a Dewar’s on the Rocks.

As the kids grew up and left the nest, Bob and Jackie were able to travel all over the world during 69 years of marriage; visiting every continent, developing a special affinity for Italy, Spain and Japan.

Bob learned to cook, and it became a passion over the years. He was even featured in a piece that the Denver post ran; his specialties included Coq a vin, Bouillabaisse and the Shrimp Curry that was featured in the Post article. He also became a wine connoisseur and collected wines to taste and share. Bob and Jackie moved to the Vi together in 2008, a few years before Jackie’s death and Bob was living there at the time of his death.