Robert "Bob" Willett Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Robert “Bob” Willett (Robin Daryl Willett) of Pueblo, Colorado, passed away on April 26,2021 at 99 years of age. After two and a half months of hospice care, he died peacefully at home with his family by his side. On December 31, 1921, Robin Daryl Willett was born in Antioch, Illinois to Lee and Gladys Willett. After the untimely deaths of his father and older brother Clifford, Robin and his sister Janis were raised by aunts and uncles in rural Illinois and later in Chicago. Robin enlisted in the armed forces in Chicago, Illinois in 1942. Due to an error by the recruiting officer, he was listed as Robert Robin Willett. He served in the Army Signal Corp in the pacific until 1945. Upon his discharge from the military, he returned to Illinois. There he met Hazel Dowell. They were married on May 10, 1947. Together they raised two children, Tim and Nancy. It was during his marriage to Hazel that Bob felt his life truly began. She began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses in the early 1950’s. Initially Bob opposed her decision, but was later intrigued and began his own study of the Bible. He dedicated his life to Jehovah and was baptized in 1954. He devoted his life to his new found faith and wanted to share it with as many as possible. He spent decades serving as a full time pioneer, spending hundreds of hours a month preaching to all who would listen. Bob continued in this work to a lesser extent as his health declined in recent years. Even while in hospice care he would speak with visiting caregivers about the Bible’s hope for the future. In March of 1972, Bob's first love, Hazel, passed away. One year later, Bob married Virginia Louise Meyer in Portland, Oregon. They became a blended family which now included Virginia’s three children from a previous marriage, Rowena, Leilani and Matthew. Bob and Virginia spent the entirety of their married life together serving their God, Jehovah. They lived in Casa Grande, Arizona, Newcastle, Wyoming, Portland, Oregon, Fennimore, Wisconsin and Salem, Oregon, making many close friends who became like family members. When Virginia passed away, September 28, 2003, Bob moved to Pueblo, Colorado. Bob's favorite color was baby blue, because “It matches my eyes.” His favorite non-human companion was his dog Snowball, whose hair was just as white as his. His friends always made jokes about his love of doughnuts, cheese danishes and Red Bulls. There was also never a day when he would go without a big mug of coffee. Bob loved reading his Bible. Many remember him starting his day with his daily text, Bible and coffee. He read the Bible from cover to cover 4 times a year. This helped him feel close to Jehovah and kept his faith strong. Bob had a soft spot for young ones and was known as “Daddy Bob” and later in life as “Grandpa Bob” by the children in the congregations where he served. He was known to be kind and gentle, though he loved to make a joke at your expense if he knew you could take it. Bob was generous, sharing his time and resources with family and friends. Many will miss hearing his heartfelt “I love you” and “Jehovah bless”. He is survived by his children, Tim Willett, Nancy Cook, Rowena Meyer, Leilani Adrian and Matthew Meyer, 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, a host of nieces, nephews and many beloved friends. A virtual memorial service will be held Saturday May 29, 2021 at 2:00pm. To view send request to olin_house@live.com

Robert "Bob" Willett

December 31, 1921 - April 26, 2021