Robert Munson

Robert Eugene Munson, a generous, dedicated, and loving husband, father, and grandfather died on August 31, 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. He was born in Renselaer, Indiana, to Wendall and Jean Munson and grew up in Donovan, Illinois, where he spent his childhood working on the family farm, growing vegetables, hunting and trapping, and developing a passion for outdoor life. Although there were only 17 students who graduated from his high school class, Bob took it upon himself in 1963 to pursue an electrical engineering major at the University of Illinois. After receiving his degree from U of I, Bob worked for Ford Aerospace in Corona Del Mar, California, during which time he received a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering at the University of Southern California. While living in California Bob met his future wife Marcy and they were married in 1965.

In 1966 Bob and Marcy moved to Boulder to enjoy everything that Colorado had to offer. Bob was recruited by Ball Aerospace Corporation, to start the antenna division, a career he excelled at for 32 years. While raising two sons, Mike and Chris, Bob felt a pull to go back to his farming roots, so he and Marcy purchased 40 acres of land and a community legend, Munson Farms, was born. Bob managed to balance working at Ball Aerospace with running the farm with Marcy, and his passion for both professions was evident to all who knew him. During his engineering career, Bob held over 30 patents, was honored by the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers, and received the University of Illinois Distinguished Alumni Award. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu. He traveled worldwide to speak at numerous conferences on the topic of microstrip patch antennas and microstrip phased arrays. His colleagues at Ball were very important to him and enjoyed that he often showed up in his hunting boots and attire, sometimes carrying geese, ready to go to work.

Farming, however, was Bob’s other true passion and everyone he came in contact with witnessed this on a daily basis. With Marcy and his sons by his side, Munson Farms grew from a small corn stand on the Pearl Street Mall in front of the Boulder Courthouse to a Boulder mainstay, with stands at the corner of 75th and Valmont and a continual presence at the Boulder Farmers Market since 1978. A popular presence in the farming community, Bob was much loved and respected for his knowledge of agriculture, his love of the outdoors, and mostly his ability to engage with anyone at any time in order to share the fruits of his family farm. He was always generous with what he grew, donating approximately 100,000 pounds of produce annually to Community Food Share as well as many other organizations throughout Boulder County. He was honored by Community Food Share for his continued efforts of providing fresh produce to people in need and received the Boulder New Pioneer Award in 2009 for his contributions to the community. He was almost always at the stand greeting customers, helping them find that “perfect ear of corn”, or enthusiastically describing the 26 types of squash that were on display. He fulfilled most items on his bucket list, traveling around the world with Marcy, and exploring farmers markets wherever he went. In this way, he was one of a kind, someone not to be replaced. He loved life to the fullest and his family as well as his community will miss him greatly.

Bob is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcy; his son Michael, wife Joan, and grandchildren Calvin, Noah and Isabelle; and son Chris, wife Jennifer, and grandchildren Christopher, Natalie, and Josie. He is also survived by his sister Donna Kendregan of Bradley, Illinois, and many friends throughout Colorado and beyond. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wendall and Jean. Because Bob valued education so highly and saw the University of Illinois as his gateway to a successful life, he would want people to donate, in lieu of flowers, to the University of Illinois School of Electrical Engineering for a scholarship to be created in his name. Please send donations to: The Robert E. Munson U of I Scholarship Fund at Premier Members Credit Union, 5495 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303; (303) 657-7000.