Obituary of Earl Robert Burge

Mentor, business owner, and innovator, Earl Robert †œBob†� Burge (85) died January 25th, 2022. Bob was born in Pueblo Colorado on 12/09/1936 to Earl D. and Dorothy Cody Burge. The family was complete with brother Ernie and sister Dorothy. The Burge family never lacked adventure, whether picking fruit for pennies, moving frequently, and at one time even living under a bridge. Bob and his sister Dorothy would lovingly referred to themselves as bridge trolls. Often, Bob would come home from school to a note pinned to the door notifying him that the family had moved and the new address. Never a dull moment. Never one to be still Bob devoted his life to service. He joined the Navy in 1954 as a submariner on the USS Aspro and the USS Stickleback. During his tenure, he was taught etiquette, how to dance, traveled around the world, and received the Navy†™s China Service Medal. Stationed at Pearl Harbor, the Navy is where he first experienced Pizza and saw his first television. Bob married Patricia Griggs on January 22, 1958. Their union lasted shy of fifty years with her passing in 2006. Bob and Pat had three wonderful children. Upon his military discharge, the family rooted in Arvada where he had a successful Plumbing business. Devotion to service led Bob to be an active leader in the Boys Scouts of America for 57 years. He felt by providing a safe and fun environment for youth to learn life and survival skills was an investment worth making. Through his contribution of time, teaching, and mentoring, he made a difference in every life he touched. Bob saw potential in everything and everyone. A constant collector of stuff, Bob was always creating and innovating. He was a skilled carpenter recurrently making new templates for Pat†™s Pets or incredible toys, and simple machines for his family, the boy scouts, and neighbors. He had the ability to make you feel seen. Whether a few hours or a brief moment, Bob could make a connection instantly. He enjoyed the simple things. A lover of Westerns, you could find him enthralled with episodes of The Rifleman, Tales of Wells Fargo and Wanted Dead or Alive because the line between right and wrong was clear. It didn†™t hurt that the good guys had the best hats and always got the girl either. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing with his kids and grand kids. Bob was the best grandpa; always making time and building wonderful memories. He was a loyal friend who never met a stranger and diligently ready for the call to help whether it was a supply he could spare or troubleshooting a dilemma that needed some invention. Although his presence is no longer tangible, he still exists with each of us. Bob†™s legacy is one of kindness, altruism, and adventure. When barriers were present, he would find a workaround because why not? He encouraged others to do the same. Bob is survived by his children Ron (Leanne) Burge, Kathi (Rick) Cloud, and Robin Burge. Grandchildren Ryan (Becky) Burge, Eileen Davenport, Emily (Skip) Hart and Ben Cloud. Great Grand kids Gracelynn and Noah Burge, and Eddie and Michael Davenport. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Camp Tahosa: Tahosa Alumni Association, Inc. P.O. Box 102938 Denver, CO 80250 Bob's Celebration of Life will be May 7, 2020 at ll am.