Robert Rodney "Bob" Rowe Jr.

Robert "Bob" Rodney Rowe Jr.
January 11, 1958 – October 20, 2025
Robert (Bob) Rodney Rowe Jr. passed away peacefully at home in Tumwater, Washington, surrounded by love. He lived in Tumwater for 37 years after moving from Santa Rosa, California, where he was born on January 11, 1958, to his adored mother Patricia (Patrick) Popov and biological father Robert Rodney Rowe Sr., and raised with love by his mom and dad, Patricia and Alexander Popov.
Bob's life was built on love, especially the love he shared with his wife, Sherry. They were high school sweethearts who spent 50 years side by side, a milestone he never failed to brag about. Married on January 19, 1980, they built a life filled with devotion, laughter, and the kind of partnership most people only dream of. They made homes, raised daughters, explored backroads, and spent winters in Quartzsite, Arizona, surrounded by good friends, desert dust, and endless rock hunting. If you talked to Bob for more than a few minutes, he'd find a way to mention Sherry, because she was his heart.
He spent his early years in California working as a soil-mixing foreman at Lindauer & Co. before moving his family north to Washington in 1987. In California, he built his young family a home, warmly known as "the house Bob built," a place that held years of laughter, hard work, and love. Once in Washington, he became a familiar face at Bark and Garden Center in Olympia, where he worked as head of maintenance and grower for 13 years. Later, he joined the Tumwater School District as a custodian and retired in 2010.
Bob was a hard worker who never complained. He took great pride in his love of plants and spent his first 20 years in Washington running his own landscaping business after his regular 9-to-5 job, making sure his wife and kids had everything they needed. He never failed to provide and did it all with a smile, even when he was tired.
Bob lived a full and colorful life, one filled with hard work, humor, curiosity, and endless rock and roll. His love of fishing ran deep and led him to start his own lure company, Golden Lures, named after his Grandma Golden Patrick, who he loved so much. His favorite thing was showing kids the joy of fishing, passing down patience, laughter, and the thrill of a good catch. His company's tagline, "Take a Kid Fishing," summed up the kind of man he was, someone who believed the best moments in life were meant to be shared.
He also found joy in gardening, crabbing, metal detecting, gold mining, boxing, and rock hunting. He loved to dig in the dirt, fix things with his hands, and bring new life into whatever he touched, whether it was plants, projects, or people. Bob was also a passionate hobby collector of coins, always fascinated by their history and the stories they carried.
Bob had a heart as big as his vocabulary, and anyone who knew him knows his favorite word was "fuck." With a mischievous grin and a raised middle finger, he loved teasing the people he cared about most, especially his daughter Kimberly. It was his signature way of saying, "I love you," and somehow, everyone always knew it.
He had been a proud member of the Dolphin Club and the Gold Prospectors Association of America, and still enjoyed the New 49ers Club. He was always happiest when he was outdoors, exploring, or helping someone learn something new. He especially loved teaching the younger generation how to do things for themselves, sharing his know-how and calm confidence, because if something was broken, Bob could fix it.
Bob is survived by his wife Sherry; daughters Angela (Scott) Alexander and Kimberly (Nathen) Demers; grandchildren Cole (Alex), Rainey Faye, Casey, Breeze, Aspen, and Wilder; great-grandsons Behrik and Solace; brother Jim (Katie); sister-in-law Deb (Arlin); brother-in-law Roy; niece Melanie; nephews Joe (Rose), David, Rick, and William; great-niece Grace; great-nephews Travis (Nikki) and Calvin; his uncle Alexis; aunt Prissy; and special loved ones Young, Shea, and Katie.
He was preceded in death by his mom and dad, Patricia and Alexander Popov; grandparents John and Golden Patrick, Grandpa Jake Rowe and Alexander and Anastasia Popov; fathers-in-law Dale Pitts and Charles Jurtin; and longtime friend and fishing buddy Doug.
Bob loved deeply. He cared for his family, his friends, his neighbors, and even complete strangers who just needed a hand. And then there was Tucker, his beloved dog who went everywhere with him. Everyone knew about Tucker, the pharmacy girls, the hospital nurses, the neighbors, because Bob never stopped talking about him. Tucker and his cat Mr. Whiskers rarely left his side, a reminder of how much he was loved in return.
Before Bob's passing, he asked us to share his love and gratitude with the family and friends who have gone above and beyond to help our family throughout the years. He was humbled by the kindness, generosity, and steady support that surrounded him, not only in his final months but all through his life. The meals, the rides, the laughter, the long talks, and the small moments of care meant everything to him. He felt every bit of it, and it carried him with peace, pride, and that unmistakable Bob smile.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the University of Washington and the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center for their compassion and exceptional care for Bob. He always spoke so highly of the kindness, attention, and humanity he received.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center through their website in honor of Bob Rowe.