September 22, 1955 - December 15, 2020
Robert (Bob) E. Balliew, 65, of Loveland, CO went to be with our Lord on December 15, 2020 at home surrounded by family—due to a short intense battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born September 22, 1955 to Robert L. and Anna Lucille Balliew in Denver, CO. Bob graduated from Colorado State University with an electrical engineering degree in 1977 and a computer science degree in 2007. He married Elaine Christian in 1981. They made their home in Loveland Colorado for almost 40 years. Bob and Elaine were members of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church during that entire time. Bob is survived by his wife Elaine, four children: Nathan (Jenn), Katherine (Darren) Balster, Rebecca, and Zachary; four grandchildren, Larisa, Isaac, Emma, and Liam; his brother Patrick (Carolyn) and niece Tiana.
Bob worked for Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies at the Loveland site for a total of 22 years in R&D, mostly software design. He earned a patent for designing a method for regenerating in-circuit test sequences, which is unusual since most software was not considered patentable at that time. Even though Bob was an excellent software engineer, he gave Elaine the opportunity to follow her career dream and he became a stay at home dad for 10 years. He later worked as a contract engineer at Agilent and Keysight Technologies until retiring November 2015.
Bob was active at St. John’s school when his children attended. He was a parent helper, worked on the school advisory council (SAC) including the finance committee, and was instrumental in setting up the school endowment fund.
Bob was an Eagle Scout and a proud dad to his two Eagle Scout sons. He enjoyed going to summer camp and high adventure camps with them and especially enjoyed Northern Tier. He was a Cub Scout and Webelo Scout leader for both of them. He supported his daughters by going to their dance recitals, sporting events, and marching band competitions.
Bob loved the outdoors, especially the mountains. He took his family on many hikes, including taking his older kids up to the top of Longs Peak.
After his last child graduated from high school Bob joined the Knights of Columbus. He advanced quickly to become a Fourth Degree Knight and was active in the organization. Among other efforts, he helped organize the Friday Fish Fries during Lent and was looking forward to doing so this coming year.
Bob was a wonderful husband, dad, and grandpa. He loved spending time with his family and will be remembered as funny, intelligent, kind, generous, and loving. He will be sorely missed.
There will be a visitation for friends and family Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home in Loveland, Colorado from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. and Vigil with a rosary from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Loveland on Wednesday, December 23 at 10 a.m. The Mass will be livestreamed at the St. John the Evangelist YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4N_y-C7zRxZE2HCrD-AFoA
Private interment will be at St. Simeon Catholic Cemetery in Aurora, Colorado. In lieu of flowers (Bob liked his flowers natural and uncut), please make a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or to St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home.
