Robert Pehkonen

ROBERT PEHKONEN

Fort Collins, Colo.

Funeral services were Monday, June 9, in Fort Collins, Colo., for Robert Jon "Rob" Pehkonen, 46, who died suddenly June 4, 2014.

Rob was born March 25, 1968, in Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Washington High School in 1986 and from Luther College in 1990. He was a member of both schools' swim and diving teams. Rob attended First Lutheran Church while growing up in Cedar Rapids. At Luther College he met his future wife, Heidi Seward; they married Oct. 10, 1992, in Independence, Iowa.

Upon graduation, Rob began working for Maytag Corp. in Santa Maria and Buena Park, Calif. He developed a new retail concept for Maytag stores and began growing his own chain of retail stores, taking that concept to Northern Colorado. Most recently, Rob was a regional sales manager for Marcone, the nation's largest appliance parts distri-butor.

Rob was an accomplished pilot. His passion for aviation led to his involvement in several organizations, including Angel Flight, the Wings of Freedom Tour and the Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

He was posthumously awarded the Civil Air Patrol's Commanders Commendation Award for achievements and services to the Civil Air Patrol, which are clearly outstanding and unmistakably exceptional. He also served on the board of the Open Door Mission and was president of the Pilots Association of Loveland.

Rob and his family were active members of First Presbyterian Church of Fort Collins.

Rob is survived by his wife, Heidi, and their children, Sawyer, Ryan and Sadie; parents, Joan Pehkonen of Livermore, Colo., and Robert (Sue) Pehkonen of Cedar Rapids; siblings, Jim Pehkonen of Park City, Utah, Kathy Smith (Scott Donovan) of Parker, Colo., and Melissa (Steve) Walpole of Scotts Valley, Calif.; and parents-in-law, Wayne and Sondra Seward of Waverly.

Preceding Rob in death were an infant son, Oliver; grandparents, Peder and Marjorie Pederson of Santa Cruz, Calif., and Toivo (Toby) and Clarice Pehkonen of Cavalier, N.D.