Robert “Bob” Hergert Kingsbury passed peacefully Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the age of 82. He was a loving father, life partner and friend who will be missed by all who knew him. Bob was born on December 7, 1941, on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, to Dr. William Oakley Kingsbury and Helen Hergert Kingsbury in Rye, New York. Both his parents and older brother William preceded him in death. Robert had many adventures growing up in Rye and visiting his Dad’s osteopathic practice on 42nd street in New York City. Bob graduated high school from Wilbraham Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
He paid his way through college at Hobart with various jobs including developing an expertise in egg cooking while working in the women’s dormitory cafeteria and sailing on the R/V Atlantis for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He graduated from Hobart College on the Dean’s List and was designated a Distinguished Air Force ROTC Graduate.
In June 1967, while in the Air Force, Bob commanded a 35 man emergency Security Police response force to establish ground defenses around Wheelus AFB, in Libya during the Six Day War. After an Honorable Discharge as an Air Force Captain, Bob and his ex-wife Mary Ellen stopped in Greeley Colorado on their way to visit his mother on the west coast and decided to raise a family there.
Bob was a Real Estate Appraiser and Developer, but his real passion was helping people through charities. He was a member of several organizations including Kiwanis (in Greeley and Fort Collins), the American Legion Honor Guard, the Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Board, and the Parkwood HOA Board. He was also a former trustee at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Collins, served as the Site Manager for High Plains Chautauqua events in Greeley, House Manager for the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley and participated in the Partner’s Program with Josh Peters.
He loved the outdoors from camping at Crystal Lakes to skiing Colorado’s many Mountains. His children enjoyed the time he took to play soccer with them on warm summer evenings on a recently mowed lawn.
Bob met Sheryl Christensen in 2007 and moved to Fort Collins. They had a great life together. He loved music and Sheryl enjoyed making music so they were a great pair. They both enjoyed contra dancing and singing in the Plymouth Congregational Church Choir. He especially enjoyed the Victorian Dances that they attended together.
He and Sheryl made an effort to keep close ties with their children’s families regardless of where they lived. Participating in great Holiday get togethers in Colorado, Massachusetts, Virginia, Texas and Illinois. He loved to travel with Sheryl including a trip to England to search the origin of the Kingsbury lineage.
He is survived by his life partner Sheryl Irene Christensen of Fort Collins, his ex-wife Mary Ellen Tiller Kingsbury Serina of East Boothbay, Maine, two children David Kingsbury and his wife Catherine of East Boothbay, Maine, Lana Klingemann and her husband Doug of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, two step children Steve Christensen and his companion Susie Benedict of Clovis, New Mexico, Scott Christensen and his wife Kelly of Fort Collins, five grandchildren Patrick Kingsbury, Matelaine Kingsbury, Michael Kingsbury, Treyden Klingemann and Carleigh Klingemann, four step grandchildren, Kim Hummel and her husband Chris Hummel, Erik deVries, Hawkeye Christensen and Fox Christensen and two step great-grandchildren Luke and Kaya.
A Graveside Service will take place on Saturday, June 1st are Resthaven Memory Gardens in Fort Collins at 12:30 PM followed by a Celebration of Life at Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Collins at 2:00 PM.
Donations may be made in the name of Robert H. Kingsbury to: Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Collins, Colorado.
