Robert Kearns

1942 - 2026

Surrounded by his family in the home he built, Robert Phillip Kearns, age 83, a loving parent, grandparent, and spouse, passed away too soon after a prolonged battle with cancer in Wenatchee, Washington, on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Bob was born in Rushville, Nebraska, to Joseph and Laura Kearns on November 3, 1942. He and his four siblings (Pat, Dick, Jack, and Ron) grew up working from a young age on the family ranch. Most days started before dawn, completing their daily chores before heading off to the one-room schoolhouse they attended. It was here that Bob developed a lifelong love for the land and a habit of early mornings.
After graduating from Rushville High School in 1960, the farm kid from Nebraska headed west and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. Someone put a bug in his ear that Boeing was hiring, and Bob was hired right away, specializing in the tooling department. Over the course of his 40-year career, he worked his way up to running that very department. Retirement from Boeing found Bob in Central Washington, where he worked with a team of contractors known as Saw & Hammer Construction. The core values Bob learned and held were present in every project, and he took great pride in constructing quality work and fostering a hardworking team.
He was known for his dedication to his craft, his easygoing and sociable nature, and his willingness to help anyone with a project. Bob, always the builder, never hesitated to help someone in need and could fix just about anything. He was a friend to everyone. He enjoyed traveling to Palm Springs, the Oregon Coast, and Maui, taking in Hawaiian sunsets and whale watching, and creating unforgettable memories with his wife and family. He also deeply enjoyed spending time outdoors at the cabin he built at the Lake Chelan Yacht Club, visiting with friends and family.
Bob is survived by his wife, Sharon, of 27 years; children Kimberly Kearns, Kari Meiers, Jeff Tarrant, Ashley Little, Jennifer Stacy, and Julie Kruse; and his beloved 12 grandchildren.
Bob filled our lives with warmth, kindness, and a love of living life to the fullest. He will be deeply missed.
Bob, never one to be the center of attention, requested no funeral service, so the family asks that you stop and take in a beautiful sunset.
The family would like to extend a warm thank you to all the medical professionals Bob came in contact with through his treatments. Be it the hospital, clinic, or in-home hospice; Bob received world-class treatment every step of the way.