Robert Gray Kearful (Bob), 87, died peacefully on October 12, 2023, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado surrounded by his loving family.

Bob leaves behind his daughters, Patsy Hartmann and Amy Wharton, their husbands, Paul and PJ, and six grandchildren who loved "Grampi" with all their hearts. John Everett Wharton VI, 29 (wife Sophia Wharton), Andrew Jan Hartmann, 28, Benjamin Robert Wharton, 28, Dustin Kearful Hartmann, 25, Peter Randolph Wharton, 24 and Bobbi Sarah Hartmann, 22. Bob's youngest daughter, Sarah Randolph Kearful predeceased him in 1992.

Bob was born October 4, 1936, to Viola Simonds Kearful and Godfrey Gray Kearful and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. He attended Aurther Hill High School, Ferris Institute and Michigan State University where he studied engineering. He was married to Julie Scherb Kearful, from Lake Forest, Illinois (Patsy, Amy and Sarah's mother), for 30 years. While he started his career at Saginaw Steering Gear, a division of General Motors, in 1959, he moved forward for the years to follow as a successful turn-around manager for small businesses with a specialty in lean manufacturing. He continued to professionally grow across industries and across the Midwest and Western part of the US.

Bob's true passion though, was his family and ski racing. He skied every season for 77 years and taught his children and grandchildren to ski as soon as they could walk. They adored every minute they spent with him on the slopes and not one of them will pass Buddy Werner's bronze statue, here in Steamboat, without a "tap" on each shoulder. Bob proudly served on the National Ski Patrol in Michigan, New York State and Colorado for over 45 years. He was a talented racer across all Alpine disciplines, Downhill, Super G, GS and Slalom, and he was a member of multiple ski clubs across the country throughout his life. He took up Telemark skiing in Colorado and competed in gates on Tele skis as well ultimately winning a NASTAR Telemark Championship.

Bob loved family heritage and had very close ties with his cousins in Montana. The trips he took to visit his father's family in Chinook, where he spent time catching up on current and past events, were very meaningful, and brought him great joy. Bob will be remembered fondly by his Kearful relatives.

Bob was also an avid SCUBA diver completing over 1100 dives in his lifetime, and he transferred his passion for underwater adventure and our coral reefs, along to his tight pack of grandchildren, who had several amazing diving experiences with Grampi.

Bob loved Colorado, and when he came to Steamboat in 1995, he became an avid hiker, fly fisherman, biker, and member of the Over the Hill Gang in town. Making memories here with his family and friends was the highlight of his life. He spent many hours in Steamboat school pickup lines, at Howelsen Hill, the Ice Arena, and on the Lacrosse field supporting the Wharton family as they immersed themselves into activities in this great town.
Bob was also a road warrior and often traveled, mostly by car, to Michigan to spend treasured time at Otsego Ski Club, "Up North", and in Bloomfield Hills at Cranbrook Schools and at home with the Hartmann family.

Bob was 100% devoted to his grandkids and had truly special relationships with each one individually. They each believe, because of him, they can do anything they put their minds to. Grampi gave them the greatest gift of all, his love.

Bob will be missed dearly by his close-knit family and friends, his legacy, which is marked in part by his deep adventurous spirit, will be kept alive in all they do. As he always told them; "Do your Best, Learn Something New, Have Fun...and Always trust your Cape!"

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made to support the Howelsen Hill Ski Area Endowment Fund in honor of Bob, and the time spend with his grandchildren enjoying Howelsen Hill. Howelsen Hill Ski Area Operating Endowment – Yampa Valley Community Foundation (yvcf.org);