Obituary of Robert Allen Trout

Robert (Bob) Allen Trout, Loveland and Berthoud Colorado, passed away on March 16, 2023 after a long illness.

Bob was born on January 25^th, 1952, in Oak Park Illinois to Marion and Robert Trout.  After graduating from Schurz High School in Chicago in 1969, Bob spent a year and a half at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.  Bob transferred to Western Illinois University to complete a bachelor’s degree in Economics.  After serving 2 years in the Army Old Guard in Arlington, Virginia, Bob completed a second Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology, a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration, and spent 35 years in hospital laboratories working as a clinical laboratory scientist and microbiologist.

Bob served 2 years in the Peace Corp, working to train laboratory staff on the island of Dominica, in the Caribbean.  He was passionate about service and the environment, working his whole life to serve the community and preserve natural resources. He did volunteer work for many years with the US Fish and Wildlife Department, Rocky Mountain National Park, and other organizations.  He was a passionate and tireless hiker and fly fisherman – no mountain too high, no river too fast.

After his retirement, Bob worked as a volunteer at Walt Clark Middle School and started a community volunteer group called Loveland Initiative for Monarch Butterflies.  He organized volunteer efforts to build a pollinator garden at Walt Clark, and guided the planting of over 5000 milkweed seedlings in the community to support monarch butterflies.  When asked what he was most proud of in his life, besides his family, he named the garden at Walt Clark.

Closest to Bob’s heart was his daughter, Sara Trout, and his family, Marinda Trout, Sarah Zwetzig and James Zapp, and Matthew Zwetzig, who survive him and will miss him terribly.  He opened up a world of travel, food (fried frog legs!), and experiences for all of us.

Per Bob’s wishes, no service is planned, and the family requests no flowers.  Through his extended illness his wife Marinda was able to see Bob through the eyes of his friends and family, and remember the wonderful, generous, amazing man that Bob was.  That is gift enough for a lifetime.  Donations can be made to Walt Clark Middle School to help fund the greenhouse and garden maintenance. 

Walt Clark Middle School, 2605 Carlisle Dr., Loveland, CO 80537