Robert Joseph Heirman

Bob Heirman, 84, was called home to Jesus on Saturday April 29th at 6:15 am after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. At time of death, he was surrounded by his loving wife & children. A golden ray of sunlight shone through the window & his face was lit up brightly.

He was a life-long resident of Snohomish, Washington. Born to Edward and Hazel Heirman in Everett, Washington at Providence Hospital. He attended Fobes School from the 1st – 8th grades then went on to graduate from Snohomish High School in 1951. He always had a love of trains, & followed in his father’s footsteps. Bob started working for The Great Northern Railroad shoveling coal for the steam engines at the age of 17. He went on through his railroad career never missing a day from work. He retired from Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad in 1994 after working for them for 43 years.

Bob was a life-long member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, served 57 years as Secretary/Treasurer of the Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club, President of Snohomish County Sportsmen’s Association since 1975 & was also a member of the Snohomish Tillicum Kiwanis. Bob was a poet, historian, naturalist, environmentalist, sportsman, artist, tenor, guide & author. Bob has written three books with his most popular book titled “Snohomish, My Beloved County”.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ed & Hazel Heirman, brother Bud Heirman, daughter Margaret Puchelt, great-grandson Keagan Hodges and beloved fishing partner Henry Grill. Bob is survived by his wife of 43 years, Clara Jean Heirman, children; Robin (Mike) Devon, Jo (Rob) Morken, Sandee Garcia, Barbara Schwab, Craig Marker and Erin (Bill) Aber. He leaves behind 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way, cribbage partner and best friend Ralph Dahlquist, The Grill Hill Family, nephew Donald Heirman, his late daughter’s husband, Rick Puchelt and many many other friends, family and loved ones.

In prior years Bob was an avid oil painter & their home is decorated with his art. He would paint for hours while listening to his favorite Irish tenor John McCormack. He loved to visit nursing homes where he would sing all the classic songs of 1890 with his late pianist Marge Schultz. You would often find Bob with his red hat on in his old green truck driving through town, or in earlier years on the river’s edge steelhead plunking & reciting poetry. He was an environmentalist that planted creeks with baby Coho salmon & planted trout in local lakes & beaver ponds. A County park was dedicated to him after his years of preserving the Snohomish river valley. The park is titled “Bob Heirman Wildlife Park at Thomas’ Eddy”. Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers has declared that Earth day in Snohomish County will now be known as Bob Heirman Day. As Bob would say, he “truly is a legend in his own mind”. We couldn’t agree more that he truly is a legend.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Father Milhton Scarpetta, Providence Healthcare & Hospice of Everett, the members of Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club and the Snohomish County Sportsmen’s Association.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, the Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club or Providence Hospice & Homecare of Snohomish County in Bob’s honor.