Robert G. Essig

Robert Essig, 82, passed away February 9, 2007 in Aurora CO. Bob is survived by Ethel, his loving wife of 53 years; his children Cynthia, Kathleen and Richard (Susan); grandchildren Christopher, Jessica, Kate and Margaret; sister Dorothy (Kenneth) Nelson, niece Nancy and nephew Robert. Robert George Essig was born to Adolph Frederick Essig and Katherine Krening-Essig in Denver, Colorado September 11, 1924. Robert was baptized December 1, 1924 in Ft. Morgan and confirmed March 17, 1940 at Globvile's St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denver Colorado, graduated from East High School in June 1943. He joined the US Navy in July 1943 and served in the Pacific during World War II on the destroyer USS Lake as Motor Machinist's Mate 2nd Class. He was discharged in March 1946. Attended Denver University for 2 years and graduated from drafting school. He worked in cabinetry for Hessler Manufacturing and ended his career at Tops Unlimited as manufacturing manager. Ethel was the love of his life and they married on October 11, 1953 at Augustana Lutheran Church and celebrated 53 years of marriage. Known as Bobby in his younger years, he was the oldest grandchild in his generation in the Krening family. He told stories of playing baseball in the park, bouncing his ball off the wall of his Dad's grocery store (which he had created a painting of). Railroads were a fascination and lead to his building a HO railroad which started in his parents cellar and moved to a basement room in his house. He worked on this masterpiece throughout the years with his cousins, son and grandson. He delivered groceries for his Dad as a kid and enjoyed swimming at the city lakes of which he loved to show off his diving skills even after his bypass surgery 14 years ago. Family was very important to him. He loved his Children and Grandchildren. He always supported their activities and life and included them in trips and vacations. He loved to take his family camping, fishing and traveling around Colorado. Holidays were always celebrated with family. Every year of his life he looked forward to the 'Family' picnics which gathered all generations together with food, games (Croquet was his favorite) and laughter. Bob was a builder. He was always working on a project such as making furniture for his family, building brick walls and planters, fish ponds, laying cement and painting pictures. His son, daughters and nephew were always following him wanting to be his helper. Today they all are very capable of building their own things in business and pleasure thanks to Dad and Uncle Bob. He raised his girls and son with no regard as to who they were but to make them the best they can be. As a child, Bob and his sister took piano lessons and Bob played the trumpet. When Bob's own children begged to take piano lessons, he bought a piano and played it so much his own children had trouble getting on the piano to practice. As the years went on Bob started his own family band starring Bob on the piano, Ethel on the Organ, Cindy on the trumpet, Kathy on the clarinet, and Dick on the drum and latter on the Baritone. Bob and his family loved to attend symphony concerts, and band concerts like those at City Park. Bob enjoyed playing Gershwin, Ragtime and the classics on the piano everyday. Traveling and seeing new sights always entertained Bob. He even enjoyed taking a ride every day the last two years of his life, including wheel chair rides in the nursing home. Fishing, camping, target shooting, going for rides, playing catch and softball, tennis, bicycles rides, painting pictures, raising roses and gardens, gold panning, and boating (of which he built a motor boat 'Zink and Zwim' and a sail boat 'Zink and Zwim II') were all things Bob had enjoyed. His menu was pancakes on Saturday mornings, hamburgers on Saturday nights, on special occasions he treated the family to root beer floats for dinner and his grand children remembers following their grandfather who always treated them to his candy bag. He enjoyed life to the end. Memorial Service, Saturday, 11:00 AM, Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave, Denver.