Robert Warren Keefer

Robert (Bob) Warren Keefer died of natural causes at his home in Montrose, Colorado, on Sunday, August 4, 2024. He was 95 years of age. He was a veteran of the military; a teacher of history and geography to many; and most importantly an amazing father to thirteen children, grandfather to twenty, and great-grandfather to at least twelve wonderful souls.

Bob was born to Harold Randolph and Goldie (Cole) Keefer in Baltimore, Maryland on June 29, 1929. As was common during the Great Depression, Bob lived at a variety of locations, as his father took work where he could find it. By the time was twelve years of age, he lived at seven different locations in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC. The family eventually settled in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1942.

Following his graduation from Montgomery Blair High School in 1947, Bob enlisted in the Army, and honorably served his country during the Korean War. He was stationed in a variety of bases including Yeongdeung-po, Korea, and Adak, Alaska. Following the war, Bob completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland. His enrollment in graduate studies at the University of Colorado (M.A.) brought him out west where he would spend the rest of his days. During his studies at CU, he met his future wife, Alice Carol Paugh. They married in 1956. In 1963, he moved his young family to a home near Eldorado Springs, Colorado, where they raised kids, horses, cattle, and other assorted livestock.

Professionally, Bob served as a teacher of U.S. and World History, and Geography at Broomfield High School for 30 years. In 1972, Bob had the opportunity to travel the world as part of an international studies program. He visited numerous countries including the Soviet Union, China, South Korea, Japan, and India. He retired from teaching in 1989.

After raising their children Bob and Alice chose to divorce and pursue separate paths. Bob moved to Arvada, Colorado, where he lived until 2021. He then moved to Montrose, Colorado, where he lived with his son Ben and wife Shelly, through the day of his passing.

Preceding Bob in death are his parents, his brother Harold Randolph Keefer, Jr., and son Michael Keefer.

Bob is survived by many of his children: Dennis (Margaret) Selvig of Sumter, S.C.; Phyllis (John) Beeler of Arvada, CO; Charles (Lily) Keefer of Winter Park, FL; Laurie (Bob) Keefer of Ocean View, HI; Wendy (Nigel) Keefer of Haxby, England; Benjamin (Shelly) Keefer of Montrose, CO; Paul (Lisa) Keefer of Lafayette, CO; Megan (James) Smith of Littleton, CO. Other children’s locations are unknown at this time. Bob is also survived by his former wife, Alice Carol Keefer, nephews David, Gary and James Keefer, and niece Susan Keefer-Junkins. Bob will be missed by his grandchildren Amy Leiner, Holly Selvig, Brie (Ryan) Pate, Reis (Michelle) Beeler, Jade Keefer, Ian Keefer, Jan Foster, Derek Foster, Brice Keefer, Mackenzie (Casey) Irving, Thomas (Kim) Hamburg, Douglas (Erica) Hamburg, Irena (Nathan) Freystaetter, Jacob Smith, Kristina (Carlos) Wiggan, Ruta (Jonathan) Stupple, Orion Smith, and great grandchildren Zoe Leiner, Jenna Leiner, Stella Selvig, Cullen Beeler, Laney Beeler, Hayes Irving, Edward Hamburg, Claire Hamburg, William Hamburg, Geneva Freystaetter, Kepler Freystaetter, Finn Freystaetter, Sebastian Bateman, Victoria Bateman, Maisie Lawson, Bobby Lawson.

As a man, Bob was well-educated, complex, and highly principled, exemplifying the western spirit. He was a voracious reader. His favorite genres included history and science fiction. He enjoyed traveling and learning about other countries and their ways of life. Throughout his life he was a firearms enthusiast, participating in shooting competitions into his 90s. He loved the outdoors and all of its offerings (hiking, camping, skiing, hunting, etc.) He also loved his root beer, chocolate, black licorice, corn-on-the-cob, Sausage McMuffins, the Denver Broncos, and Colorado Rockies. He passed his enthusiasm for many of these things on to his family.

Remembrance services for Bob will be held in the Chapel at Crippin Funeral Home in Montrose, Colorado at 9:00am, on Saturday, September 14. Following the services, Bob will be laid to rest with military honors at Grandview Cemetery, Montrose, Colorado