Bob Heimbucher passed away on Wednesday September 4, 2019 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center following heart surgery. He was 77 years old. Bob is survived by his wife Aileen; his daughter Stacie, and son-in-law Jeffrey; son Craig and daughter-in-law Negar; grandchildren Wyatt and Paige; brother Brian and sister-in-law Mary Jane.
Bob was born on May 22, 1942 in Portland Oregon, the first child of Fred and Bernice Heimbucher. He was a very outgoing child who would wander their block visiting with adult neighbors and playing with their pets.
Bob attended Highland Grade School (now Martin Luther King) where he joined Cub Scouts and later Boy Scouts. During these years he and friends would ride bikes all over NE Portland including the Columbia Slough area and the old slaughterhouses on North Columbia Blvd creating their own adventures. Bob was 10 when his baby brother was born. Aileen’s main recollection of Brian at 10 when she first met his family was Bob teasing him mercilessly. Bob was quite small for his age entering Jefferson High School, yet he joined the freshman football team. After being leveled a few times by a larger teammate, Bob decided wrestling was a better sport for him. (That teammate was Mel Renfro who would become future All American at University of Oregon and a Pro Bowl player for the Dallas Cowboys). Bob was treasurer of his high school service club and a member of National Honor Society. During Bob’s final year at Jefferson he accepted a 6-year work/college scholarship with U.S. Bank that included his required military service (with the Oregon National Guard) and an after-school job at the bank. Graduation in 1960 was followed by Army Basic Training at Fort Ord California, then a year working at U.S. Bank’s Lombard branch.
Bob finally entered University of Oregon in September 1962 with his lifelong friends from the work/college program experiences. He joined Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and had his share of high jinks with his frat brothers.
During the summer of 1963 Bob met his future wife Aileen Erickson on a blind date. She was enchanted by his blue eyes and big smile, but most of all by his teasing and sense of humor. Senior year at Oregon Bob rented an apartment with 2 other work/college friends. They graduated June 12, 1966, Bob with a degree in Economics and membership into the Honorary Society for high academic achievement – Phi Beta Kappa.
Bob’s full-time career with U.S. Bank started after graduation as an Operations Officer at Peninsula Branch. As a representative of the bank, he joined St. John’s Jaycees, a community service group and was also a Junior Achievement Advisor at Roosevelt High School. Bob and Aileen were married at a church in the St. John’s neighborhood on August 27, 1966. They celebrated 50 years together in Hawaii with their entire family in 2016. Over his 37 year career at U.S. Bank, Bob worked at Metro branch, was Assistant Manager at both 39th and Salmon branch and at Hollywood branch, and held several positions in the downtown Main office and Bank Tower complex. He retired as Vice President in the Loan Approval department in 1997.
Bob’s last job was working on the Multnomah County Tax Appeals Board for 2 months each winter for 16 years.
One of Bob’s greatest joys in life was his 42 years in Kiwanis. He made wonderful friendships and loved giving back to his community. Painting and redecorating rooms at the White Shield Home; working at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp; monthly work at Red Cross and the Oregon Food Bank; providing drinks, bananas and clean up along the Portland Marathon route and so many other activities and fundraisers.
Bob loved his family and was so proud of his children and their successes in life. He was seriously frugal and was happy to see them handle their money wisely. Aileen loved tent camping (and later backpacking) which fit right into Bobs frugal plans with lots of fun family times in the forests and around campfires. Some camping trips included a larger group with the work/college guys and their families. Bob loved get togethers with friends, hiking, fishing, golfing, Oregon Duck games, watching his children play sports, 50 years with his monthly poker group and time at his beach cabin. Bob also loved vacation trips by car to Orange, CA to visit Aileen’s sister’s family, with free lodging and close access to Disneyland, warm beaches, and exciting tourist sites. Also, very special were fun car trips with his much-loved grandchildren to Lake Chelan, Black Butte Ranch, and the Yellowstone/Tetons/Jackson Wyoming adventure.
After retiring Bob loved learning the history and culture as he and Aileen traveled outside North America to England, Italy, Costa Rica, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, China, France, Poland and others. Bob learned bits of the language and made friends everywhere he went. He had a good life and appreciated his family, friends and adventures.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob’s name may be made to
Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp
10725 SW Barbur Blvd, Ste. 50
Portland, Or 97219
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