Robert Dean Beers

Robert Dean Beers, 86, of Fort Collins passed away on October 11, 2026.

Known as “Buddy” in school, “Bud” in the Navy, and “Bob” to everyone else, he was born at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1940 to Leroy A. Beers and Crystal E. Beers (Depew). His sister, Nancy J. Factor (Beers) preceded him in birth (1939) and death (2014). A 6th generation native of Fort Collins, his great-grandfather John C. Beers first settled in Fort Collins as a blacksmith and sheep farmer just before Colorado statehood. His dad and Uncle (George) were volunteer firemen. While acting Fire Chief, Leroy drafted what became the Poudre Fire Authority District. During WWII Bob and his family were at Camp Hale in Leadville, where Leroy was the Fire Chief for the 10th Mountain Division. He attended local schools, including old Lincoln Jr. High and old Fort Collins High – graduating in 1958. Within weeks of graduating Bob enlisted in the Navy and was shipped to San Diego for boot camp. He married Shirley A. Younger in 1967 in Fort Collins. He adopted her son, Dean, in 1968 and later their youngest son, Philip, was born while stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Bob retired as a Petty Officer 1st Class from the Navy in 1979 and was hired by Hewlett Packard, where he later worked for various offshoot companies from the Loveland facility, until disability from an automobile crash forced his early retirement in 2000. Since that time Bob enjoyed playing chess, watching sports, movies, and visiting people at restaurants he would go to daily. Until he was unable in recent years, he remained strongly independent in living, loved his country, and was very proud of his service in the Navy. As a radio operator, first on the Neptune P2V and then the P3 Orion, he traveled the world during the height of the Cold War tracking Russian and other communist submarines in every ocean and sea, including the US seaboard. He loved to tell stories from boot camp to deployments. He was often gone for 3-6 months at a time on deployments, and was grateful for the support of his first wife, Shirley, during that time. They divorced in 1985 and remained friends until her death in late 2021. Bob was a loving Dad to his sons, Dean and Philip; and he remained close as a father-in-law, grandpa, and great grandpa to all of his family.

In recent years Bob lived at assisted living in Greeley. This year he had a decline in health and was under hospice care for the past few months. Bob and his family extend their gratitude to Brookdale and the staff, and residents, for the care and friendships of the last couple years.

Bob is survived by his two sons, Dean Beers (wife Karen) and Philip Beers (husband Sean Kline); grandchildren, Jeberly Hill (Cameron Blair), and Winter Hill; and great-grandchildren, Jacee, Lincoln, Gage, and Cash; as well as cousins and nephews.

Services are by Goes Funeral Care, and graveside services with full military honors by the US Navy will take place at Grandview Cemetery on March 13, 2027. Please visit www.goesfuneralcare.com to share memories and condolences with his family. A stone honoring Bob and his service will be placed with his parents at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Bob asked donations be made to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) – which he gave to regularly during active duty and retirement – donate online at nmcrs.org.