May 7, 1945 – November 14, 2022
Robert Marvin Uhr was born May 7, 1945 in Great Falls, Montana, to Msgt Marvin John Uhr USAF and Grace Bernice (Bloom) Uhr. He passed away November 14, 2022 in Longmont, CO at the age of 77.
Bob was of Norwegian and Swiss heritage, his family roots in rural Iowa. Due to his father's military career, as a youth he lived in numerous places, including Montana, Alaska, Nebraska, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, and (West) Germany. He graduated in 1963 from Kaiserslautern American High School while his parents were stationed at Ramstein AFB. He received his college education in electrical engineering at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
In 1964, during a family visit to Renwick, Iowa, Bob met and fell in love with Vicki Jane Nerem, daughter of Marvin Nerem and Jennie (Lund) Nerem. Vicki was studying music at Luther College in Decorah, IA; they courted long-distance until their marriage on November 19, 1966 at Lake Lutheran Church of rural Renwick, after which Vicki attended ISU. In 1968 they moved to Longmont, CO, where they have since resided. Bob passed 5 days before their 56th wedding anniversary.
As an only child, Bob found ways to occupy himself. His mechanical aptitude became apparent early on, as he was always interested in what "made things work." An oscilloscope he built earned top honors in the German American district science fair. This natural curiosity and his college education served him well in his career with several Boulder area manufacturers, including Valleylab, Engineering Measurements, Life Care Systems, and Staodynamics.
Bob had a life-long love affair with trains and railroads. In the mid-1990s, he established his own custom model railroad business, Section House Models, serving clients across the U.S. He also enjoyed working part-time at Caboose Hobbies in Denver. For over twenty years, he and 3 close railroading buddies vacationed on the western slope of Colorado, exploring CO railroad history and the abandoned narrow gauge lines through the mountains. He was a member of the Boulder Model Railroad Club, where he was proud of being named Modeler of the Year.
Bob enjoyed several other hobbies, including photography, motorcycling, and racquetball. In 1989 he fulfilled a promise to Vicki and took her to Germany and Switzerland. While they were there, the Berlin Wall was breached, which was a poignant footnote in Bob's life, as his family was stationed in (West) Germany while the wall was being constructed.
In his late sixties, Bob showed the first signs of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a rapidly progressing form of dementia. Vicki cared for him at home until she was no longer able, and he lived his last few months at the Alta Vita Memory Care Centre in Longmont. The dementia journey is a very difficult one, and thanks are due to everyone who helped them along the way, especially those who extended extraordinary support to Vicki: Deacon Dennis and Nancy Bolitho, Dr. Gary Bloom, Gary and Kay Lloyd, Carl Babb, Bob and Deanne Sarchet, Kathy Zulauf, Barb Huner, Kathy Crier, and the staff at Alta Vita.
Bob's friends will remember him for his sense of humor, his love for animals, his patriotism, his respect and support of veterans, his friendliness and helpfulness, and his ability to fix almost anything (which he considered both a bane and a blessing). He and Vicki restored several homes, including a west-side Longmont Queen Anne Victorian which was awarded landmark status. They would also say that Bob never met a meal he didn't like.
Bob was of the Christian faith and a member of Epiphany Anglican Fellowship in Longmont. He is survived by his spouse, Vicki Uhr of Longmont; his brother-in-law, Pastor Terry Nerem (whom he thought of as a brother), McAllen TX; niece Jennie Klein (Troy), McAllen; niece Katie Nermoe (Bryan), Fargo, ND; cousins and friends. He was preceded by his parents, Vicki's parents, sister-in-law Rosetta (Franklin) Nerem, and several beloved animal companions.
No services are planned at this time. Condolences may be sent in the care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry St, Longmont, CO 80501 or shared online at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com. If you feel inclined to remember Bob in a special way, you would honor him by contributing in his memory to THE FTD Association (www.theaftd.org) or by reaching out to help a family affected by dementia.
