Bobby was born December 30, 1954 in Burlington, Iowa at Mercy Hospital to Marshall & Coleen Cochran. He then moved to Laramie, Wyoming in the 3rd grade. In Laramie, he attended Washington Elementary, Laramie Junior High, and graduated from Laramie Senior High, Class of 1973. Bobby was involved in Future Farmers of America (FFA), where he showed sheep, pigs, and quarter horse. His pig was Grand Champion and his sheep once was the highest auctioned without the title of Grand Champion. However his biggest pride in FFA was his quarter horse Stacey, the Reserve Grand Champion at the Wyoming State Fair.
July 3, 1973, Bobby took the love of his life, Mary Waskovich, on their first date. They married November 1, 1980 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Bobby & Mary started their own family and were blessed with two children, Bailee & Reece. Over the years they had many crazy & fun adventures but they were most proud of the two children they brought into this world.
After high school, Bobby attended the University of Wyoming for a short while before working for Burman’s Chevrolet, the Union Pacific Railroad, Kodak, and Davidson Chevrolet. January 1, 1979, Bobby began his career as a Union Electrician entering into the IBEW Local 68 apprenticeship program & joining the Hall. Bobby became a journeyman electrician May 1982 and retired January 1, 2017 after 41 years. After the birth of his second child in 1989, Bobby took a short hiatus from being an electrician to work as a Farmers Insurance Agent for seven years.
Bobby’s adventures as a young man included riding bareback broncs and bulls at high school rodeos, his 1970 Chevelle Super Sport, pumping gas at the 3rd Street Station, riding his horses, and partnering up with his wild & crazy friends from Lutz Cabinets where he earned his nickname “Slick”.
Bobby’s biggest passion was his Harley and love for the open road. He attended the Sturgis Bike Rally for 34 consecutive years and many thereafter. His favorite motorcycle rides were those that went “North to go West” with the CurbHuggers 38. His most treasured rides were those putting around with his wife or children on the back of his bike.
Bobby loved Halloween, creating elaborate front porch displays and costumes. As a family, Bobby loved camping at Glendo, McConaughey, Lake Marie & Snowy Range, Red Feathers, and Dowdy Lake. The trips to Mexico with family friends were always highlighted by Bobby’s boisterous personality. Bobby’s creative insights & landscaping for his yard was reveled by all who visited. His unique landscaping incorporated both nature’s beauty and rustic charm.
Bobby’s personality was second to none. His smile was contagious and there wasn’t a soul that did not love his presence. Bobby is remembered most for his amazing sense of humor, captivating storytelling, and unforgettable joke telling. Wherever Bobby went or whoever he encountered, he always made a friend and often for life. There wasn’t a room he couldn’t light up when he entered and was always the life of every party. Most of all, Bobby had a heart of gold and a smile that will be forever imprinted on the hearts and minds of all those he met. His family and friends will forever shine a light in his name.
Bobby is survived by his wife of 39 years, Mary, his children, Bailee & Reece, daughter-in-law, Ellie, and newborn granddaughter, Carter Rae; sisters, Cindy Cattleman (Kurt), Linda Davidson (John), and Marsha Strandgard; aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins & families.
Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Coleen & Marshall, brother, Doug, mother-in-law Helen Waskovich, and sister-in-law Anna Waskovich.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bobby’s name can be made to Parkinson’s Association of the Rockies (https://parkinsonrockies.org/online-donation/ or 303-830-1839), which benefits his Fort Collin’s Power Punch Community. Any other monetary donations to the family will be contributed to an educational fund for his present and future grandchildren.
The family would like to invite friends to a public viewing Tuesday July 7, 2020 (4-7pm) at Allnutt Drake Chapel and memorial services & internment Thursday July 9, 2020 (2pm) at Grandview Cemetery, followed by reception (3:30pm) at Resthaven Memory Gardens.
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