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Bob Johnson remembered as adventurous, happy

Noelle Leavitt Riley
Bob Johnson
031315_Robert_A._Johnson

Craig lost one of its most joyful residents last week, Bob Johnson.

Bob was well liked and well known throughout Moffat County, and his smiles, warm demeanor and inquisitive spirit will be greatly missed. He passed away quietly in his home March 6.

He was avid skier and an active mountain man who loved to talk about his time on the slopes.



“He’d come home, and he’d always tell me about the people he met on the lifts,” said his wife of 37 years, Dee Johnson.

His family held a reception Wednesday at the Center of Craig, and they placed his ski passes from years past on each table, signifying his love for alpine skiing.



Words like “integrity,” “hard work” and “dedication” circulated the reception, where attendees stood up and spoke about how Bob positively influenced their lives.

Those who knew Bob could always count on a welcoming smile and gentle handshake each time they saw him.

“He loved people,” said his daughter Katie Lamach. “That’s one of the reasons he loved his job.”

Bob ran State Farm insurance agency in Craig, always putting his clients’ best interests first. Several of his colleagues and former employees attended the reception, speaking highly of his work.

Bob and Dee have three children: Katie (Nick) Lamach, 34, Matt (Lynne) Johnson, 37 and Alex (Kelly) Johnson, 30. They also have four grandchildren: twins Harper and Ryligh, 1; Olivia, 5, and Maizie, 2.

“He really loved his family,” Katie said, highlighting also how much he enjoyed being a grandfather.

Born in Canton, Ohio, Bob always wanted to live in Colorado. He met his wife while working at May D&F in Denver. Dee worked in the portrait studio, and Bob worked as a custodian.

“He had to go past my booth everyday,” Dee said, noting that he brought film canisters to the studio to be developed even though he knew that they only took photos and didn’t develop film.

Bob was a State Farm agent in Aurora for 20 years, prior to moving to Craig. He was excited to move to Northwest Colorado because of the western, cowboy feel. Mostly, he was thrilled to move closer to the mountains.

“He loved adventure,” his son Matt said. “He never wasted the day.”

He worked six days per week and spent his Sundays with his family and/or in the mountains.

“Every weekend, it was a get away,” his youngest son Alex said.

Recently, Bob accomplished a huge success by raising awareness about teen safety and driving with Celebrate My Drive, sponsored by State Farm.

The campaign earned Moffat County High School $25,000, and Bob was instrumental in that success.

“I think it’s wonderful. I think it’s … an exciting achievement for Moffat County High School,” Bob told the Craig Daily Press in December.

He was an active member in Craig Rotary, a member of the Craig Chamber of Commerce board, actively involved in Club 20 and was part of the Commission of Judicial Performance.

Overall, he was an extremely happy man, his children said.


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