"N3155F — this is Control Tower One: You are clear for landing on runway zero-niner. Welcome to Heaven. Over"

Robert J. Anderson

May 23, 1935-Sept. 22, 2017

Age: 82

Residence: Greeley, Colorado 

Robert Jerome "Bob" Anderson made his final instrument flight rules (IFR) approach to the gates of Heaven on the evening of Friday Sept. 22, 2017. Bob was met on the tarmac by his wife of over 50 years, Marilyn Joyce (Bader) Anderson, who anxiously awaited his touchdown. Bob filed his last flight plan from Life Care Center of Greeley in Greeley, Colo.

Bob was born on the family farm on May 23, 1935, in Genoa, Neb., to Anne (Paulsen) and Christian Anderson. A 1953 graduate of Genoa High School, Bob exemplified the class motto — "We are what we make ourselves."

Bob earned an associate degree in accounting in Omaha, Neb., in 1955. In 1956, after a brief tenure as a clerk with Swift & Co., Bob entered a lifelong career in the banking industry. The year 1961 found Bob and his new family in Greeley, Colo., employed as the head teller at Greeley National Bank. Elected in 1963 as a vice president, and one of the first officers, of the newly chartered West Greeley Bank, Bob served in this capacity until 1969 when he was hired as vice president at Greeley National Bank. Bob remained with Greeley National Bank and its many iterations until being hired at Farmers Bank in Eaton, Colo., in 1996 as vice president and manager. Bob retired from The Eaton Bank in 2000.

As a 50-plus-year resident of Greeley, Bob's commitment and love of his community was evident in the volunteer and civic activities he engaged in throughout his life. Bob served as chairman of the Greeley Ambassador's Committee, as president of the Kiwanis Club of Greeley and as chairman of the Aviation Advisory Board at Aims Community College, an organization he was involved with for over 30 years. In 2002, Bob and his wife Marilyn received the Distinguished Service Award from the Kiwanis Club of Greeley for their decades of exceptional contributions and dedicated service to the community.

Bob's passion for service was only outweighed by his love of flight and his beloved Cessna 182 Skylane. A long time pilot and early champion of the Greeley–Weld County Airport, most weekends when not doing touch and go's or flying to Cheyenne for breakfast, Bob could be found in Hangar 13E working on, cleaning or preparing his beloved Skylane for flight. On Sept. 25, 1994, in one of his last flights, Bob, as pilot in command of N3155F, landed at Denver International Airport for the once-in-a-lifetime DIA General Aviation Fly-in.

Bob is survived by his brother, Edgar Anderson of Columbus, Neb., his daughter Sherry Anne Orne of Las Vegas Nev., his sons Robert Ralph Anderson of Greeley, Colo.; Jon Ernest Anderson of Greeley, Colo.; and Joel Edgar Anderson of Golden, Colo., and his grandchildren Sierra Ann Anderson of Greeley, Colo.; Briana Lea Anderson of Greeley, Colo.; Madeline Pfalmer Anderson of Golden, Colo.; Caitlyn Emily Orne of Las Vegas, Nev.; and Robert "Jack" Gravity Anderson of Golden, Colo.

A family ceremony and interment of ashes at Our Savior's Lutheran Church for family and friends will held at a later date.

"N3155F — this is Control Tower One: You are clear for landing on runway zero-niner. Welcome to Heaven. Over" 

Original tribute can be found here ➤ http://www.greeleytribune.com