Robert Dean Ewegen

1945 - 2023

Ewegen, Robert Dean
Bob
May 30, 1945 - February 21, 2023
Retired Assistant Editor of the Denver Post

Robert Dean Ewegen (he preferred Bob) was born in Wayne, Nebraska. Shortly thereafter, he and his family moved to a farm in Amherst, Colorado, where Bob often imagined he was sailing on a far-off sea while operating the combine on the acres of planted wheat. He remained on the farm until 1963 when he left to study journalism at the University of Colorado, Boulder. While there he met and fell in love with his soul-mate, Yvonne Montgomery and in 1968 they married. While at CU Boulder, Bob wrote for the student newspaper, The Colorado Daily, and served as its editor-in-chief from 1966-1967. Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968. During basic training his superior officers noticed Bob's typewriter and sent him to West Point, New York where he served as the editor of the West Point newspaper, the Pointer View. Upon honorable discharge from military service in 1970, Bob returned to Colorado and earned an M.S. in Economics and Labor Relations at the University of Colorado. That same year, he began working at the Denver Post, where he would work for the next 36 years. He ultimately became assistant editor of the editorial page, a position which he held until his retirement in 2008. Bob's his award-winning work at the Denver Post was well-known for its insight and humor. He frequently wrote the Post's political endorsements. Bob co-authored B.S.: The Bureaucratic Syndrome with Byron L. Johnson in 1982. He shared his knowledge with generations of students as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, The University of Denver, and the Community College of Denver.

In 1975 he and Yvonne welcomed their first child, Misty, into the world, and three years later their second child, Shane, followed. Bob was a devoted father and loved to play games with his children. He made up games with them but he also taught them to play poker and chess. His favorite thing to do was to yell out "Cuddling Pile! ______ is the catalyst!" This was a signal to have everyone in the house pile into his and Yvonne's huge, comfy bed, where the catalyst would be in the middle and everyone would have a snuggle together. Bob was an avid lover of dogs, and was partial to dachshunds. In 1992 he and Yvonne adopted Muffin, a glorious dog with flowing auburn hair who brought him profound joy until her death. Bob and Yvonne then adopted Samson (renamed McGuffin) and Riley, a bonded pair of sleek black dachshunds who filled the house with their mischievous antics. Following their deaths, they adopted Tuppance, who has survived Bob's passing.

Bob's impact can be seen in the political and geographical landscape of Colorado and in the lives of the countless people he affected during his 77 years. Like the Front Range of the state in which Bob resided for nearly the entirety of his life, his memory towers over the region, bringing beauty and joy to those who loved him. Among those are his surviving family members; his wife Yvonne, daughter Misty, son Shane, son-in-law Dan, daughter-in-law Maggie, grandchildren Marlena and Oliver, and his sister Sandi, brother-in-law Gary, and brother Eugene. He was also survived by a large extended family and the myriad of people he welcomed into the family over the years.

There will be a celebration of life ceremony held in his honor in the coming weeks. For details, please see https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bobewegen. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to one (or both) of the following charitable organizations: Life is Better Rescue - https://bit.ly/LIBRGive / Camfed - camfed.org