Robert Kenneth Kean – October 21, 1945 – March 4, 2024
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Kenneth Kean. Bob left us in the early morning Monday, March 4, 2024 after a battle with Type II Diabetes and Kidney Disease; he was 78 years old at the time of his passing.
Bob was the only child of Clarance C. Kean and Dorothy J. Kean. Born October 21, 1945, in Stoneham, Massachusetts (a suburb of Boston, MA). The family moved to Ormond Beach, Florida to follow a job opportunity for his dad. His new home was a small 2-bedroom, 1-bath home with a covered carport painted flamingo pink located on La Palma St. Bob enjoyed the beach life, being only minutes away from the waves.
Bob’s father passed away in April 1962 after his own illness and Dorothy was left to raise 16 year old Bob on her own. Now, truth be told, Bob was a handful after Clarence passed and Dorothy, bless her heart, tried to be a firm hand but that wasn’t her make up; she was a nurturing soul (a nurse by trade) and not a disciplinarian.
Bob was the cliché’ teenager pushing the envelope of what he could get away with. Now he never got in trouble with the law (allegedly) but he was a James Dean wannabe. Living close to Daytona Beach, home of NASCAR’s Daytona 500, fueled his passion for cars and things that went fast. He loved being around cars (today they are considered classics like the ’57 Chevy). To the day he passed, if he spotted a car from that era, he could give all the specs and smiled while doing it
However, his passions of being around fast cars and living the beach life changed rapidly when he joined the United States Air Force three days after his seventeenth birthday in October of 1962. He completed Basic Training, Tech School and his first assignment at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Being the charming soul he was, he crossed paths with a beautiful lady, Roberta L. DeRosier. Now she loved men in uniform and was seeing another gentlemen at the time; however, Casanova Bob would not be deterred and wooed Roberta. Long story short, on September 22, 1964 Bob and Roberta were married and had one child, Kenneth Allen Kean.
Like many young serviceman in the 60s, Bob was sent to Vietnam. Roberta went to Florida to live with Dorothy and raise Kenneth. Now we all know the horrors of the Vietnam War, and wars in general. We know too many stories of soldiers who never made it back; we’re lucky Bob did come home. He walked away from that war with his own scars, demons and memories. He served his country for nearly 21 years working primarily in CE (Civil Engineering) with his last duty assignment at McChord AFB with 62 CES (MAC).
Upon retirement from the Air Force (Tsgt), Bob started a second career and worked for The Boeing Company in Renton, WA for 17 years. He played a part in building an updated and newer version of Air Force One for George H. W. Bush. Knowing Bob, his initials were likely behind a panel just so he could leave his mark. Upon retiring from Boeing, he worked overseas for private contractors in Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Over the course of his lifetime, Bob divorced twice and lived alone in the Seattle area until December 2007. After suffering a stroke, his son moved him to Boise, Idaho to recover and provide an environment where Bob could thrive and enjoy the time he had left. Many poor life choices caused Bob to develop Type II Diabetes and conforming to a diabetic diet was not high on his priority list. Bob tried living on his own for a couple of years but his diabetes necessitated more care and Bob became a resident of the Idaho State Veterans Home in 2010. The Idaho State Veterans Home was exactly what Bob needed to manage his diabetes. The loving care Bob received from the staff was superb. They became another family for Bob and his humor and thoughtfulness had an impact on every staff member and resident. They cared a great deal for Bob and his death has hit them very hard as well.
Bob was truly an explorer at heart and always wanted to know more about what was going on in the world around him. Bob could not sit still and quickly began exploring his new environment. He walked and walked around and if he wasn’t walking, he would use the bus system. His favorite place to go was downtown Boise and he became a fixture in the downtown scene. He set up shop, so to speak, and much like Norm from Cheers, Bob found his hangout at the Dutch Brothers coffee shop on the Grove. Bob was ever present on his stool near the cash register and would chat with anyone who came in whether it was as simple as “Have a nice day,” to the in-depth conversations with complete strangers. He developed relationships with all the employees of the Dutch Brother’s “City” Grove location. Bob thrived on the youthful energy of the staff and the diverse patrons who came through the doors. Eventually Bob, who loved card games, started playing Cribbage with a staff member. The next thing you know, Bob has become a professor and is teaching every member of Dutch Brothers, including the General Manager, the game of Cribbage. Playing Cribbage helped Bob build up an appetite and he ventured across the street to a new BBQ restaurant by the name of R&R. He developed relationships with the staff sharing stories of his life or chatting about current events to anyone who would listen. Bob was a grandfatherly figure to all these young people and occasionally a father figure. They came to care deeply for him and spent much of Bob’s last days sitting at his bedside at the Veteran’s Home.
Bob lived his best life in the final 16-years of his life and ultimately became the person he was born to be…a genuine friend, a truly caring individual and a giving soul. His loss is profoundly felt by all the people he impacted during his life but especially those who came to know him in Boise.
Bob is survived by his son, two grandsons and five great-grandchildren. He was extremely proud of all their accomplishments and marveled at the growth and development of his great-grandchildren. His grandsons were especially special to him and he was extremely proud of the men, fathers and husbands they have become. He would brag about his son and was appreciative for the environment his son created for him in Boise.
Bowmans Funeral Home, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Drive, Garden City, ID will perform the cremation.
Bob’s ashes will be interned at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with full honors on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM.