Robert Leroy Greenwell

Robert “Bob” LeRoy Greenwell was born May 30, 1935, to Leonard and LaVon (Salee) Greenwell in Lamar.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents and two of his three sons. Timothy Lee died in 1979, and Leonard Don (Kathy, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren) died in 1992.

Robert is survived by his wife, Sandy (Brown) Greenwell of Green Valley, Arizona, who he married in 1981; son, Michael (Shelly, three granddaughters and five great-granddaughters); daughter, Lori Jensen (Gary, six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren); daughter, Amy Greenwell (two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren); and step-son, Mike Brown (April, two granddaughters and one great-grandson).

Robert grew up on a farm in Kiowa County northwest of Eads, and attended the Prairie Queen School for the elementary years. He then attended high school in Eads, where he graduated from Eads High School in 1953. Robert attended the Colorado State College of Education-Greeley (now University of Northern Colorado), where he obtained his B.S. degree in K-12 Education and Music.

Upon graduation from college, Robert returned to Eads High School and taught band. In 1957, Robert married Beverly (Aldrich) Capps, and they continued to live in Eads where four of their five children were born. While being a husband, father, and teacher, Robert continued his education and obtained his master's degree in Secondary Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1959.

After three years of teaching in Eads, Robert became the principal at Eads High School until 1965. In 1965, Robert and his family moved to Berthoud, where he served as the principal at Berthoud Junior-Senior High School for nine years, where Robert’s fifth child was born. In 1974, Robert was appointed as the Assistant Superintendent of Federal and Special Programs for Thompson School District R2-J. Robert served in this capacity until 1988, when he returned to the classroom and taught fifth and six grades for his last two years and retired in 1990.

Robert was an accomplished saxophone player, and paid for his entire bachelors and masters degrees by playing in swing/jazz bands around Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska. Robert learned to play all wind instruments, most brass instruments, and the piano in his music endeavors. Robert ended his music career when he started his family, but continued to sing in various choirs throughout his adult years.

For almost 20 years, Robert was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Berthoud. Robert served as a Deacon and the Presbytery, and sang in the church choir. He had a love of gardening and travel and was able to cultivate these passions throughout retirement, collecting and then planting flower seeds from various places he had visited.

Robert and Sandy lived in Loveland and Estes Park for many years, and spent many weeks traveling by RV around the United States, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Greece, and Italy. They then moved to the warm weather of Green Valley, Arizona, where they have lived since 2004, and continued their RV travels and great adventures to distant locations.

Robert never lost his passion for serving others by volunteering at various non-profits in the Green Valley area, caring for friends, and lending a helping hand wherever needed.

Robert was known as a compassionate and loyal husband, father, and friend, and people fondly remember his wonderful sense of humor and love of life. Robert was a board game enthusiast and a master at cribbage. 

Robert will be remembered at a gathering December 21, 2024, in Littleton, Colorado, and his memorial service is scheduled for February 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, Arizona.

Donations can be made in Robert’s name to: Friends In Deed (Green Valley, AZ), friendsindeedgv.org, or Arizona Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org