Robert Lee Stafford

Bob was the beloved husband of Ruth Louise (Hartmark) (deceased 2015); He is survived by children Brian (Janice Thomas) and Brenda (Dan) Simonson; grandchildren, Daniel, Annika and Andrew Simonson, Dylan and Wren Stafford. Preceded in Death by his parents Howard and Gladys (Rassbach) Stafford, and his siblings Wilma Robinson, Helen Bratton, Ken, and Jerry, and his nephew Shawn Stafford. He is survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews, colleagues and friends. Bob graduated from Wheat Ridge High School (class of 1953). He attended Fort Lewis College and graduated from Colorado A & M (now CSU) in 1959 with a B.S. degree in Construction Management. For nearly four decades, Bob led the general contracting firm, Murray & Stafford, Inc. He married Ruth Louise Hartmark in 1962 to whom he remained devoted for more than 50 years. Bob was an active parent. Bob also loved the Rocky Mountains. He built a family cabin near Tabernash, Colorado and was often found on weekends with his family hiking, skiing, boating, or fishing in the mountains that he loved. He also built his home in Lakewood, Colorado and resided there with Ruth and family for some 40+ years. Many Christian ministries were near and dear to Bob and Ruth’s hearts…..they gave much time and support to these ministries. In the early years of their marriage Bob and Ruth were active members of Trinity Baptist Church in Wheat Ridge, CO. Bob and Ruth spent the remaining 40+ years of their lives at Southern Gables Evangelical Free Church in Littleton, CO (now Southwest Community Church). Ruth and Bob had many friends, mostly due to Ruth’s gregarious nature and knack for hosting dinners, but also due to Bob’s kind and agreeable personality. They had hundreds of friends from their various social and religious networks. Bob also loved sports, having been a championship basketball and football player at Wheat Ridge High School. Bob was a huge fan of the Nuggets, Avalanche, Rockies, Broncos, and the Colorado Buffalos. In recent years, Bob was afflicted with dementia which affected his memory and motor abilities but not his kind personality. Over the past 9 years, he was supported in his home by wonderful caregivers and he also resided at times with Brian in California and Brenda in Minnesota. Bob’s last four months of care were provided by Trouvaille Memory Suites in Excelsior, MN.

Memorial donations in Bob's name can be made to :

Compassion International (compassioninternational.com/bobstafford)

Colorado Christian University (ccu.edu/giving)

Bob's obituary also appeared in the Denver Post. It can be found using the link below :

https://www.denverpost.com/obituaries/robert-stafford-excelsior-mn/