Robert Eugene Temmer

He was born September 3, 1943 in Denver, and attended Denver Public Schools, graduating from East High School in 1961. Bob married Lavenia Vigil, whom he’d known since fifth grade, on October 23, 1964.

“Uncle Bob” often assumed the roles of father, big brother and protector for his nieces and nephews — standing in for absent parents, teaching and nurturing, and supporting family members needing legal counsel and representation.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado in 1966, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law, graduating in the top of his class in 1969, and receiving the Order of the Coif for legal academic excellence.

Bob practiced law in Denver before becoming an administrative law judge with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in 1974. He heard and decided cases regulating utility rates and operations, telecommunications and transportation. He became Chief ALJ in 1989, and by 1991 was serving as the agency’s acting director. In 1992, Governor Roy Romer appointed him to the Public Utilities Commission, and he was named chairman. Bob is credited with helping to restore public confidence in the commission in the wake of the former chair’s early resignation. In a statement released when Bob announced his retirement, Gov. Romer wrote “Bob Temmer has brought a sense of balance and unquestioned integrity to the commission during his tenure as chairman.”

Bob retired from public service in 1994, and joined the legal department of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. He worked initially as Assistant General Counsel, and later was named Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He was involved in the expansion of Tri-State’s power-generation infrastructure, advising the board of directors and association members on the finance, permitting and construction of a new natural-gas-fired power plant. He also guided the addition of several New Mexico rural electric cooperatives, including Plains Electric Transmission and Generation Cooperative, to Tri-State’s membership. He retired from Tri-State in 2005.

Bob enjoyed the outdoors, and spent time camping, fishing and upland bird hunting in Colorado and around the West. He was an avid golfer later in life, enjoying the game with Lavenia, his friends and family, and playing courses from Hawaii to Florida. He was interested in ranching and farming, and lived on a small farm just north of Fort Lupton. He was devoted to his family, and enjoyed spending time with Lavenia, his wife of nearly 60 years, his son and daughter-in-law, and his extended family. Bob and Lavenia enjoyed traveling to New Mexico and the American Southwest, and collecting pueblo pottery and Hispanic art. They filled their home with beautiful native pots, and carvings and painted images of saints known as bultos and retablos.

Bob is survived by his wife, a son, Brent Temmer of Denver, Two Brothers, Philip of Frederick, Colorado and Larry of Denver, and numerous nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 370207 Denver, Colo. 80237.