Robert Harold Krier

Robert Harold Krier was born February 14, 1935, in Bismarck, North Dakota to Henry A. and Elizabeth A. (Tshider) Krier. Robert, or Bobby as his sisters called him, was the youngest of six children. Robert’s grandchildren affectionately called him “G-Bob!”

The family moved to Olympia, Washington in 1945. Robert attended Lacey Grade School and Olympia High School, graduating in the class of 1953. He attended college at Saint Martins in Lacey and later the University of Washington in Seattle. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Shortly thereafter he started work with the Washington State Highway Department designing bridges and later after the creation of the Department of Transportation worked with the ferry system and floating bridges. He was also a member of the Lacey Historical Society for many years.

In 1956, Robert married Linda Lee Grace. They had three children together. Sadly, Linda passed away in 1970 from cancer.

In 1973, Robert married Marilyn Kjer (Cooper). Marilyn passed away in 1991 due to natural causes.

Robert met Carol Anderson in 1990 through Robert’s sister Harriet. They became good friends who frequently traveled together. Hawaii and Lincoln City were their favorite destinations. They also took a cruise together which went through the Panama Canal. Carol was his loving companion of 30 years and passed away in 2020.

Robert enjoyed fishing in Puget Sound and a variety of lakes in Washington and he was particularly fond of fishing trips in Curlew, Washington. When his sons were teenagers, the four of them would go SCUBA diving, often with their favorite uncle; Bill Fuller. Robert also took a trip with his sons to Yellowstone Park and Jackson Wyoming which included a trip down the river on inflatable rafts.

Robert retired in 1988, spending time with his family which by this time included several grandchildren. Shortly after his retirement, he also went to Norway to consult on a floating bridge project.

In the early 1990s, he worked as a paid consultant evaluating and documenting historic bridges for Eastern Washington University, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and King County Department of Transportation. That work inspired him to be an indefatigable advocate for historic bridge preservation. He and Craig Holstine became great friends and collaborators on many bridge documentation and preservation efforts, co-authoring numerous reports and articles.

He provided invaluable advice and expertise to individuals and organizations advocating for bridge preservation, including the Historic Bridge Foundation and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. He was instrumental in WSDOT’s decision to preserve the McMillin Bridge, a unique concrete truss bridge that had been scheduled for demolition. Today the bridge stands where it was built over the Puyallup River in Pierce County in 1935. It has been listed as a Pierce County Historic Landmark. After a seven-year effort to save the bridge, he and Craig co-authored “The McMillin Bridge: Preservation of a Unique Engineering Treasure,” published in the March 2017 Historic Bridge Foundation Newsletter.

Because he had provided so much to our understanding of historic bridges, Craig and his co-author Richard Hobbs dedicated their book, “Spanning Washington: Historic Highways of the Evergreen State” to Bob and fellow former WSDOT bridge engineer Oscar “Bob” George and WSU history professor emeritus David Stratton. The WSU Press published the book in 2005. His contributions continued long after that, mostly pro bono as a friend of historic preservation and a personal friend of Craig and many others. He was particularly helpful in evaluation and documenting the fallout shelter built in 1963 under I-5 at the Ravenne Overcrossing in north Seattle.

In 2011, he was officially recognized for his advocacy by the Washington State Historic Preservation Officer with a Special Achievement in Historic Preservation Award. Presented annually to groups and individuals who have provided outstanding contributions, the award’s recipients include former Congressman Norm Dicks and other elected officials, community and tribal leaders, and organizations across the state.

Robert passed away April 26, 2023 at Providence Saint Peters Hospital in Lacey, Washington after a short period of declining health.

Robert is survived by his sons; Michael (Susan), Richard, Marshall (Carrie), grandsons; Sean, Matthew (Tara), Joshua (Brittany), Jeffrey (Brigitte), granddaughter; Jennifer Hill (Brandon), great grandsons; Henry, Nathan, Easton, and Kason; great granddaughter: Charlotte. As well as many loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry A. and Elizabeth A. Krier; brothers, Cal Krier (Carol) of Issaquah, WA, Al Krier (Shirley) of San Diego; sisters, Mary Jane Krier, Rosemary Erickson; brother-in-law Bill Erickson and Harriet; brother-in-law, Bill Fuller.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Robert, Saturday, June 17, 2023 at the Olympia Yacht Club starting at noon. Food and a variety of beverages will be provided. Please be prepared to share your favorite stories about Bob.