Robert E Troeltzsch

Robert Edward Troeltzsch passed away surrounded by family on March 12, 2016, after a four-year battle with cancer. He was 86. A family graveside service will be held at Mountain View Memorial Park. A memorial to celebrate his life will follow at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at Mountain View United Methodist Church, 355 Ponca Place, Boulder, followed by a reception at Frasier Meadows Manor. Bob was deeply loved by his family and friends. Throughout his life he was actively engaged with his family, children, grandchildren, community, and the world around him. He was always observing and listening and he was eager to offer his thoughts and discuss the views of others. Bob was born in Peoria, IL in 1929 to Julius Robert Troeltzsch and Nellie (Clingman) Troeltzsch. He lived in Peoria with his younger brother, Lloyd, until he was 8, when he moved to Iowa City for a year while his recently divorced mother completed her Masters Degree. They then moved to Denver where his mother was a Professor at Colorado Women's College. Bob and his brother spent many summers in Louisiana with their father, who managed an ammonia plant in Baton Rouge. Bob graduated from Denver's East High in 1947 as World War 2 ended and the Cold War began. Bob attended the University of Denver his freshman year and then transferred to the University of Colorado to study engineering and ROTC. During the summer before his senior year he met and fell in love with Mardelle Armstrong and they were married on December 25, 1950. He received his BA in Chemical Engineering in 1951. He began his professional career working for ESSO/Standard Oil in Baton Rouge, LA. He remained in Baton Rouge for 5 years during which time Bob and Mardelle started their family with 2 daughters, Pam and Karen. In 1956 Bob moved the family to Boulder where he would spend the rest of his life. In 1957 he built a house in Country Club Park where he served as the President of the Wagner Water District for 13 years. His son John was born in the early 60's. Bob began work for Dow Chemical at Rocky Flats in 1956 where he would work for 29 years until his early retirement. At Rocky Flats he worked as a lab engineer, production supervisor, R&D engineer, Head of Purchasing, and Senior Manager for Information Technology. He spent 1981 working as an executive on loan to Boulder County United Way. He finished his career in 1985 as the Strategic Planning Manager for long term facility planning including decommissioning of the Plant. After retirement he and Mardelle traveled extensively both in the US and internationally. Bob was widowed in 1989. In 1991 he met Pat Metzger and they married on November 8, 1992 in Boulder. Bob eagerly embraced and loved Pat's children and family. Bob and Pat enjoyed traveling including many family trips to Mexico. Bob loved spending time with his grandchildren. Bob and Pat volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and ushered at the Colorado Music Festival. Bob's amazing sense of curiosity led to a life-long passion for learning. He returned to CU as a night student where he earned an MBA in 1968. He developed an interest in computer science while working with CU's large mainframe computer. He also developed a passion for management that led him to executive training programs at DU, Harvard, and MIT. Bob was active in Toastmasters and was an accomplished public speaker. After retirement he relished attending the annual CU Conference on World Affairs and loved to talk about world affairs, science, and politics with his coffee group. He was a profoundly intellectual man and he was always eager to learn something new but you had better have your facts straight if you wanted to convince him to agree with you. Bob was a Boulder community leader throughout his life. He was a founding member of Mountain View Methodist Church. He volunteered with Junior Achievement and Boy Scout Troop 177. He worked for the Boulder Mental Health Crisis Line during the mid 70's. His commitment to Boulder County United Way included serving as an Interim Director and on the Board of Trustees. One of Bob's proudest accomplishments was his work serving on the Boulder County Planning Commission for 13 years from 1973-1986. During this time, his leadership and foresight established the land use and zoning that help make Boulder County the jewel it is today. He is survived by his wife Pat; his brother Lloyd Troeltzsch of Austin Texas; his daughters Pam (Bob) Parish of Windsor, and Karen (Chris) Mendrop of Colorado Springs; his son John (Michelle) Troeltzsch of Boulder; Pat's children Lisa (Kirby) Atkins of Haxtun; Bill Chamberlin of Littleton; Tom (Stacy) Chamberlin of Golden; grandson Shaun Parish; granddaughters Emily and Anne Troeltzsch, Elise and Emily Atkins, Zoe Chamberlin, and Margaux and Avery Chamberlin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Think Humanity, 2880 Spring Mountain Drive, Loveland, CO 80537 or TRU Community Care (Hospice), 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026. All of his family loved him deeply, will miss him immeasurably, and will carry him always in our hearts. Arrangements under the direction of Crist Mortuary, Boulder, CO.