Robert Ferrese

Robert (Bob) Ferrese of Denver, CO and Sun Lakes, AZ passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Friday, July 21, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at the age of 95. He was born on June 30, 1922 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

His loving wife Patricia Matte Ferrese survives him, as well as his daughters Nancy Vandel (Bob), Linda Kell (Rick), Marianne Hamilton (Don), 9 beloved grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. His wife Vivienne Ferrese preceded him in death in 1995.

Bob graduated from high school in Scranton, PA in 1939 and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Lafayette College in 1949. He was a very proud member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Bob entered the United States Army in 1942 and was stationed in Western Europe during WWII being honorably discharged as an army captain in 1945. Afterwards, Bob continued to serve his country by enlisting in the army reserves until 1961.

Bob accepted a civil engineering position with the Federal Bureau of Reclamation in 1949 and moved to Colorado with his wife Vivienne. They settled in the Barnum neighborhood of west Denver where they raised their three daughters. In 1958, Bob became actively involved with American Memorial Lutheran Church, where he taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and served on the church council. He later transferred to Abiding Hope Lutheran Church as a charter member in Littleton, CO.

Bob was instrumental in several water canal and diversion projects in the western United States. Following his retirement from the Federal government he accepted a position with the civil engineering firm, Morrison-Knudson, and relocated to Phoenix, AZ. While in Arizona he completed several water diversion projects including the Gila River diversion for construction of the Arizona “Loop 101” highway.

In 2010 Bob married Patricia Matte and spent his later years enjoying her company, traveling, and playing golf. They resided in Sun Lakes, AZ while spending the summer months in Littleton, CO.

A military graveside service will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado on Thursday, August 3 at 11:30 AM, staging area “B”.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to:
Abiding Hope Lutheran Church http://www.abidinghope.org/ or Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains https://lfsrm.org/give-now/donate/

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