Robert A. Froese, noted artist and long-time Western Slope resident, died at his home in Montrose, Colorado, on August 26, 2015. His wife of 51 years, Dottie, was at his side. A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ouray at 2 pm, Tuesday, September 1.

Bob was born on October 25, 1934 to Herman and Eva Froese in Hutchinson, Kansas. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1954. In 1964, Bob married Dorothy (Dottie) Cheever also of Hutchinson, and entered the Kansas City Art Institute where he received his BFA in Painting in 1967.  That fall, Bob entered graduate school at Boston University as a teaching fellow. He was granted an MFA in Painting there in 1969. Bob returned to Hutchinson where he taught painting and printmaking at Hutchinson Community College. In 1977, Bob and Dottie purchased the St. Elmo Hotel in Ouray, Colorado. After selling the hotel, they remained in Ouray until relocating to Montrose in 1998 where Bob lived until his death.

Bob spent his artistic career working primarily in oil and acrylic on canvas. Bob found artistic inspiration in the landscapes of Western Colorado, as well as in the simple forms of his studio interior. Bob’s work was included in many juried shows. It was also shown at galleries in Denver, Vail, Salt Lake City, and Ouray. His work is held in distinguished corporate and private collections throughout the United States and in Europe.

Bob was a devoted teacher who continued to seek opportunities to assist other painters even after he left academia to pursue a full-time painting career. He taught master classes for Colorado Mountain College in Vail, Taos, Ouray and Montrose, and worked as a course consultant for Regis University in Denver.

Bob is survived by his wife Dottie; sister Judy Froese and her partner Stuart Templeman of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Sally Nelson Froese and her three children of Columbia, Missouri; and brother-in-law Gordon Niederhauser and his son of Salt Lake City, Utah. He was preceded in death by his brother Jim Froese and his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hope West Hospice, PO Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402.  Arrangements are under the care of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Colorado