BOB METKE

1938 - 2014

On Saturday evening, March 1, 2014, our 28th wedding anniversary, my dear Bob moved his "Good Humor" stand from his life in the beautiful Skagit Valley to the next part of his journey. Bob was fortunate to pass away in the peaceful and beautiful setting of Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland, WA. His pancreatic cancer had just recently been diagnosed.

Those who knew Bob will always remember the warmth of his smile, personality, and hugs, and the color and joy he brought to all those he encountered during his life. His mission in life was to make people smile and feel good about themselves, and he accomplished that to a great degree.

Even people who didn't know Bob at all, would smile when they saw him walking down the street...his colorful attire, from "flat hat" down through Aloha shirt or colorful sweater (depending on the season), and on down to tie-dye or other colorful socks worn with the brightest Crocs we could find, just made people pause and smile, and often offer a comment. In recent years his outfits were completed by the fused glass pendants he made and wore. He was hard to miss! And you wouldn't want to miss this special guy...

Bob (Robert Lloyd) was born in Seattle on October 18, 1938, the first born child to Lillian and Lloyd Metke. The family soon moved to the lovely town of Montesano, where big brother Bob was joined by sister Linda and brother Paul. Linda and Paul were most loving and helpful during the final days of Bob's life, and I appreciate them so much. Bob's Dad worked for the Weyerhaeuser corporation, and Bob recounts that he used to come home and find George Weyerhaeuser himself sitting in his living room, talking timber with his Dad.

Bob graduated from Montesano High School, class of 1956. While in high school he lettered in both football and baseball, and was selected to the all-conference football team. During the last few years, Bob and his HS classmates have spent time reconnecting with each other by meeting for lunch several times a year, and those have been enjoyable times.

After HS graduation, Bob joined the Navy and served three years, mostly on the USS Kearsage, an aircraft carrier. After discharge, he returned to Grays Harbor County, and married Darlene Fickeisen of Aberdeen on July 1, 1960. Their marriage produced two wonderful children, Jeff, born on August 10, 1961, and Marci, born November 13, 1965. Bob was so proud of both of his children, and although he was a traveling salesman during much of the time they were growing up, he made an effort to be home for their games and activities if at all possible. The greatest sorrow of his life came when his beautiful daughter Marci passed away of esophageal cancer at the age of 26, in 1991. She had just been married and had her whole life ahead of her...my hope is that they have reconnected now.

Bob worked various jobs related to the wood products industry while living with Darlene in the Grays Harbor area during the early years of their marriage, meanwhile also doing lawn mowing and other landscaping-type work on the side. Along the way, he took a Sales Training class, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Bob started working in sales positions for various suppliers in the horticulture industry, and on February 16, 1976, began his career with the J M McConkey Co., of Sumner, WA, manufacturers and distributors of greenhouse and nursery supplies and equipment. Bob's career with McConkey lasted for over 32 years. He retired on February 29, 2008, after traveling during those years throughout the Pacific Northwest and into British Columbia and Alberta, calling on greenhouses and nurseries. His customers quickly became his friends.

He loved being out and about visiting with his customers and doing his best each day to bring them the right products, great service, and smiles and hugs along the way. During many of those years, his efforts were enhanced by the help of Bev, his "inside" sales support person, and other McConkey staff who helped ensure that the customers got what they needed in a timely fashion. Since Bob's passing, I have been amazed and grateful at the number of messages his customers and colleagues have sent me, telling me that seeing Bob always "brightened" their days.

Bob's career in the horticulture industry was far more than a "job" to him...he worked long hours participating in many industry meetings, tours, conventions, and trade shows in several states and provinces. He assisted in the planning of and helped to create and stage these events, always working with the thought in mind of what would help his industry colleagues and customers be more successful.

Bob's dedication to his chosen field was rewarded by several awards and honors. He was named Supplier of the Year in 1994 by the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association. Then in 2005, we were presented with the WaFlora Cup, presented by the Washington Floricultural Association for outstanding service to the floriculture industry. In 2008, Bob and I were the recipients of the Pacific Coast Nurseryman Outstanding Service Award, for significant contributions to the Washington State Nursery/Landscape Industry.

Then, after his retirement, in February, 2009, we were honored to be awarded a very special plaque by the British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association, "In recognition of your years of exuberant and colorful support to the B.C. Horticulture Industry". All of these awards meant so much to Bob...he didn't work for awards, he worked for his customers, but he appreciated being recognized in this way for his efforts.

During these years, Bob was thrilled to watch his son, Jeff, marry the wonderful Teresa Kjose, and develop a beautiful family, as well as a successful remodeling business. Grandson Michael was born in 1990 and is a graduate of USC in neuroscience, and will be attending grad school soon in that field. He also was a member of the USC Trojan Marching Band during his time at USC, playing the saxophone. Granddaughter Danielle, born in 1993, is a junior at the University of Oregon, a member of the U of O Dance team, and is planning a time of service with a program in Africa this fall. And youngest grandson, Justin, born in 2002, has worked extremely hard to overcome the effects of the seizure disorder that began to afflict him right before his first birthday. Justin, in his short life, has already had four brain surgeries at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland. We are all encouraged by the progress he has made following his most recent surgery in October of 2012. Bob and I are so very proud of Jeff, Teresa, and the beautiful family of grandchildren that they gave us. We couldn't ask for a more wonderful family.

Bob and I also greatly enjoyed traveling to Maui, and made at least one trip a year to that beautiful island since our marriage in 1986. Maui became a "home away from home" for us, and Bob built a great collection of Aloha shirts during our visits there. The Maui Swap Meet was our favorite shopping destination.

Although Bob loved and was fulfilled by his career at McConkey, along the way he also developed other interests. He attended massage school and attained the position of Licensed Massage Therapist. And he nurtured his artistic side...he had painted with both oils and water colors for some time, and then he discovered working with silver and glass! He was lucky to be invited to spend time working under the supervision of Orville Chatt, renowned jewelry maker/silversmith/ art teacher (thanks for that, Laurie!) and with a group of special people we called the "Orvillites"...talented artists, all, who became great friends. He loved his times with Orville, Laurie, Ted, Carole, Marilyn, Dottie, and Patti (now deceased).

During his time working with Orville and his Wednesday group, Bob also became entranced with fusing glass and began to create wonderful and unique fused glass pieces. We became volunteers at Pilchuck Glass School, and Bob was also a student at Pilchuck. He also shared regular meeting times with other glass artists in the Skagit Valley, Lin, John, and Annette. They gave him great inspiration and encouragement.

No account of Bob would be complete without mentioning his love of football and the Seattle Seahawks, and our delight in being season ticket holders and attending all the games we could. We suffered through the painful seasons with the team, and were rewarded just a month ago with the Super Bowl Championship! I am so happy for Bob that he got to experience the elation of that experience before cancer got the best of him. Lee Ann, our wonderful friend and "kitty nanny", gave Bob a Seahawks Super Bowl champion flag, and that was with us throughout his last days in the hospital and Hospice.

Bob's harem of three blue-eyed rescue kitties was also so very important to him. "The Girls", or "The Munchkins", as Lee Ann calls them, absolutely adored him, and the feeling was reciprocal. They would jockey for places near him, and he would take them outside on our deck on leashes to keep them safe from the predators that abound in our area. We had wonderful kitties during our entire life together, and that is another wish I have for Bob right now... that he is reunited with those cats that have gone "Over the Rainbow Bridge" before him.

People from all aspects of Bob's life will miss him greatly, but we all have many wonderful memories of this very special and colorful man to bring us comfort. And for me, his wife of the last 28 years, life will never be the same, but I treasure all the moments we shared, and hold all the memories close to my heart. And I SO appreciate all the messages of love and support that we have received during the last days of Bob's time here on earth. Thanks to all of you who have walked this path with us.

Farewell and Aloha, my dearest Bob, until we meet again, Marianna

Visitation at Hulbush Funeral Home, 9AM-3PM, Thursday, March 13 281 South Burlington Blvd, Burlington, WA 360-757-6055. Burial at Bay View Cemetery, High Noon, Friday, March 14 (about 9 miles north of La Conner)

Burial followed by reception/celebration of life gathering at Maple Hall, La Conner, WA, Friday, March 14.

Memorial donations in Bob's name can be made to: Pediatric Epilepsy Program-in honor of grandson Justin Metke c/o Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation, 1121 SW Salmon St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97205. Phone (503) 552-0690 Or: Pilchuck Glass School, 430 Yale Ave. N Seattle, WA, 98109. Phone (206) 621-8422, Ext 26.