Robert "Bob" Callahan

Robert Merlin Callahan was born August 22, 1942 in Seneca, Missouri, the firstborn of Merlin and Wilma Callahan. The family grew to include siblings Dale, Barbara, Linda, Diana and Patrick. In his youth, Bob became the first Little League baseball player in the state of Idaho, and was selected to play American Legion select baseball; both of these were honors of which he was very proud. He graduated from Kellogg High School in Kellogg, Idaho, in 1960.

Bob worked in a variety of occupations, including lumber mill worker, candle manufacturer, and Boeing employee. His primary career was in real estate sales, which suited him well due to his love of interacting with people.

Robert Sean and David Jared were Bob's first children, born while he was married to Pat Simons in the early 1970's. Finding himself single in 1975, Bob met the love of his life, Ardoth Preecs, the receptionist at the real estate office. On January 30, 1976, they were married. Together, they raised her four children, Amanda, Dorthea, Danica, and Darron, and Bobby and David as well. In 1981, Bob was able to adopt Ardoth's four children, making the family a real-life Brady bunch. One by one, the children left home and got married. He delighted in his ever-growing family, especially when the first grandchild, Ben, arrived. At his passing, he had fifteen grandchildren: Ben, Melody, Belinda, Jordan, Aaron, Samantha, Rebekah, Nathan, Emily, Christian, Kaitlyn, Noah, Liam, Nolan and Robert.

Family was one of Bob's greatest passions. Reunions, camping trips, special occasions, holidays were all important events. Photography became very important to Bob once his first grandchild was born. Hunting and firearms were areas of great interest for a time. Bob never lost his love of baseball, and was a die-hard Mariners fan no matter how badly they played.

Bob was big in stature, but his size was dwarfed by his big heart and his love for others.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Barbara.

He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on April 1, 2011.