Robert S. Paauw

Robert S. Paauw was born on January 9, 1928, in Pipestone, Minnesota, the fifth of seven children of Rev. Jacob and Elsie Paauw. He died at age 87 on January 30, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. He is survived by his wife Luella and children David, Glenn (Jain), and Dean (Teresa) Paauw, all of Colorado, and Luann (Kevin) Auerbach of Ohio, grand-children Justin (Lisa) Paauw , Colin Paauw, Joanie (Adam) Bailey, Robbie, Nicole, and Nathan Paauw, Jacob and Joshua Auerbach, great-grandchildren Jessa and Landon Paauw, as well as a brother Douglas Paauw of Seattle, Washington.

Bob spent his childhood in Holland, Minnesota, before moving with his family to Sultan, Washington at age sixteen. He finished high school there and then moved to Vancouver, Canada. Five years later he was drafted into the U. S. Army and was stationed in Camp Carson, Colorado. He served in the Field Artillery Group, and also became the Chaplain’s Assistant for the base.

He was a regular weekend visitor to Denver and soon met Luella Van Zanten. They married, and after a year in California, the young couple moved back to Denver where Bob finished a degree in accounting at the University of Denver. Bob and Lu had four children, first the three boys Dave, Glenn, and Dean, and finally their long-awaited girl, Luann. Bob and Lu were married 61 years and they joyfully received the gift of eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Robert loved finance, and devoted much of his life to serving in this field. After passing the exams to become a Certified Public Accountant, early in his career he worked for the auditing firm of Masters, Collins, Peabody & Vander Laan. After auditing the Denver investment firm of Hanifen, Imhoff & Samford, Bob was offered a position and worked there for 23 years. He went on to become their VP and Chief Financial Officer.

Finance was also the area where Bob volunteered his services to others. He was on the founding board of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (now World Renew), and remained a lifelong supporter of this tremendous kingdom work around the globe. He also served for many years on the school and foundation boards of the Denver Christian Schools. Bob was a deacon and elder in the church, and also served the CRC Classis Rocky Mountain as treasurer. He was a classis delegate to the denominational synod of 1978.

In his earlier days Bob enjoyed fishing, in his later days it was golf. Music always had a special place in his heart—from singing in the men’s group Knights of Song, to hours of soaking up favorite hymns in his office. Perhaps the best way to characterize Bob’s life is to note his devoted faithfulness to his family and quiet service to the Lord he loved and trusted.

Burial will be at Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetery in Centennial, Colorado. A memorial service will be held at Third Christian Reformed Church, 2400 S. Ash St., Denver, Colorado on Friday, February 6, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. A light lunch will follow at the church.

Memorial contributions can be made to:

World Renew

1700 28th St SE


Grand Rapids, MI 49508


1-800-552-7972

Give online at worldrenew.net