A family physician who later became a psychiatrist, he was an active teacher and community volunteer right up to the end.
Born in Beatrice, Nebraska in 1925, Bob served as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy during the Korean war. He married Harriet Rickertsen in 1955 and they remained together 50 years until her death. In Kimball, Nebraska he practiced general family medicine until 1970 when he pursued a degree in psychiatry from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. From 1973 to 1988, he practiced psychiatry in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, followed by a brief period in Cheyenne, Wyoming, before retiring in Fort Collins, Colorado.
In Fort Collins, Bob was active in many community organizations, including the Kiwanis; Front Range Forum (where he both attended and facilitated classes); Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgendered Persons (PFLAG); and the local senior center. He served on the ethics committee of Poudre Valley Hospital, was on the board of Northern Colorado Hospice, and was a very active member of Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC).
He is mourned by his children, Susan Bodar (Jerry) of Dubois, Wyoming; David Calkins (Anne Talbot) of Scottsbluff; Bill Calkins of Denver; and Carol Calkins (Mike Moyer) of Cheyenne, Wyoming; three grandchildren, Justin Eckland (Heidi) of Sterling, Colorado; Hannah Calkins of Washington, DC; and Brooke Bodar of Dubois. He also has one surviving brother, Raymond Calkins, of Lincoln, Nebraska, two great grandchildren, and a beloved dog, Peggy.
Music was one of his life’s greatest pleasures. He listened to the Metropolitan Opera on the radio every Saturday for years, and eventually attended the live broadcasts of the Met at the local movie theatre. He was, himself, an accomplished musician, performing as a tenor in many venues. He was very fond of organ music and delighted in the performances of his own children.
Bob will be remembered for his kindness and infectious sense of humor. He was a loving and generous father, husband, mentor, and friend, and a long time advocate for the sick, injured, and mentally ill.
In lieu of flowers, his wishes were for memorial donations to be given to PFLAG Fort Collins (305 West Magnolia, PMB 117, Fort Collins, CO 80521).
A memorial service will be held Saturday April 28, at 2:00 p.m., at Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC), 916 West Prospect, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Go to www.goesfuneralcare.com for an extended obituary and to sign the guest book for those that cannot attend the service.
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