Obituary: Robert Danks
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April 4, 1946 – May 6, 2025
On May 6, 2025, Robert (Bob) Danks of Aspen, Colorado passed away with his wife, Laurie, by his side. Bob was born in 1946, the son of Ray and Cyrilla Danks and raised in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. He graduated high school at age 17 and joined the U.S. Air Force. He served four years in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist with top security clearance. He attended the University of Wisconsin on the GI Bill graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Bob started his career in accounting but, as he shared, “was tired of keeping score and wanted to play the game”. He had a long and successful career as COO and CEO of manufacturing companies in Wisconsin, Colorado, Minnesota and Alabama. Bob was well respected by his colleagues and known for his strategic thinking as well as his caring, inclusive leadership style.
In 1994, Bob married his soulmate, Laurie Bellatti Cadger. He loved her deeply and was a husband and man of great character, patience, kindheartedness, wisdom and sense of humor, who charmed us with that special twinkle in his eye. Bob loved Laurie’s daughter, Katy, as his own and had three sons from a previous marriage.
His grandchildren knew him as “BobBob” and he relished his time with them. They shared their favorite memories with him before he passed away, including his good cookin’, “Bob bread”, storytelling, jeep rides, and his silly jokes known as “Danks humor”.
Bob enjoyed hosting dinners for family and friends, game nights, and conversations over morning coffee with guests. Children in the neighborhood were drawn to Bob because he listened, cared, helped on projects and had the best snacks around. He was an avid reader, a walking encyclopedia, a skilled marksman and a master craftsman of one-of-a-kind collectables in “Bob’s Basement”.
Bob is survived by his wife, Laurie; daughter, Katy (Matt); his three sons and the mothers of their children: Barry, Brad, Chris, Stephanie, Joan and Jenny. His grandchildren: Brooklyn, Blakely, Wyatt, Tanner, Ade, Lily, Gavin, Andrew and Logan. Father-in-law, Bob Bellatti; brothers-in-law: Doug, Chris and Bobby; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Bob was predeceased by his dearly loved parents, Ray and Cyrilla Danks; sister, Cathy Kwapil; brother, Jim Danks; mother-in-law, Shirley Bellatti and sister-in-law, Melissa Stone.
Bob treasured the family tradition of “The White Envelope”. Each Christmas, Bob and Laurie wrote their children “all I want for Christmas is for you to give to someone in need or a charity of your own choice”. In lieu of flowers, please join The White Envelope tradition.
http://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-white-envelope/
