Robert L."Bob" Engel

Bob was born on March 31, 1940 and departed this life on January 6, 2015.

He was born in Denver, Colorado to George and Lois (Duenweg) Engel, The oldest of three boys: Paul, April 9, 1945 and Daryl, June 24, 1948, both have passed away. Also predeceasing him were his parents; grandparents; uncles Louis Duenweg, Paul Gorney; and Aunt Leona Moats.

Bob is survived by his partner Richard Nolan of Denver, Colorado; beloved aunt, Louise Mohler of Agate, Colorado, now living in Hugo; nephews Jim Engel of Atwood, Kansas, Brian Engel of Phoenix, Arizona; nieces, Carol Jaques (Terry) of Limon, Colorado, Debbie Haflich (Doug) of Harrisonville, Missouri, Shawna Fowler (John) of Omaha, Nebraska; close friends Tom Cannon of Denver, Colorado and Scott Ferris of Denver, Colorado.

Bob was always very proud of being a third generation Coloradoan, Grandfather Louis Duenweg, born in Akron, Colorado and grandmother, Hilda Duenweg(Kruger) born in Castle Rock, Colorado. It was they who took him arrowhead hunting in the Brakes east of Agate and gave him a life-long addiction to collecting Indian Artifacts, and an appreciation for the beauty of the land.

Other lifelong friends Jim Goodrow and John Campbell, son Robert Campbell, were made at Agate, John being responsible for Bob going to college.

John had a scholarship to Lamar and needed company. Both entered Lamar on basketball scholarships. The second year, Bob got a scholarship for taking the position of college newspaper editor; His time at Lamar was full of wonder and happiness. He served as president of the Drama Society and vice president of the student council.

Bob received one of two scholarships given by Western State College and graduated from WSC in 1963 with a degree in speech and drama. He chose Limon to do his student teaching and following this accepted a position at Limon, ending in 1966, moving to Aurora to teach for another seven years. These years at Limon were some of the happiest times of his life, mainly because of his students.

During his tenure in the Junior High schools he started a candy and cigarette machine business, which he kept until 1977, when he sold it and opened a neighborhood lounge and restaurant - B.J.'s Carousel on South Broadway in Denver, Colorado. He operated this for 33 1/2 years. In the process the bar became a very important fund raising tool for the community, raising over $1.4 million for the Colorado Aids Program alone. BJ's became the premier fund raising venue providing much needed revenue to over twenty-five non-profits organizations and providing space to many celebrations of life functions.

During this time, he was involved in many community organizations. He was co-founder with Julian Rush of the current Colorado Aids Project, co-founder and three time president of the Colorado Tavern Guild, co-founder and president of the La Casa housing project, through CAP honorary member of Rocky Mountaineers Motorcycle Club, member of the Denver Professional Men's Club, BJ's Prom Court, another fund raising organization to benefit many causes.

He also received many awards. He was given the humanitarian of the year twice by the ICRME (Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire), Man of the year by the Denver Professional Men's Club and many plaques of appreciation from various organizations, enough to fill several trophy cases.

Bob loved to fish, hunt arrowheads, collect Indian artifacts, classical music, folk music, leaded glass, hearing people laugh, a good joke, a good glass of Crown Royal (when he was drinking-twenty years ago) and seeing bright colors, nature TV, anything that made you think TV, National Geographic, Smithsonian and Indian artifacts magazines.

Bob succumbed to the cancer of the throat he has been fighting for six years. He hadn't smoked since 1965.

He was a fierce Democrat!

He truly loved life and lived it to the fullest.

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