Robert Dean Asleson

Robert (Bob) Dean Asleson, 73, of Charles City, IA, peacefully passed away on Saturday, April 10 surrounded by his family after a short but valiant battle with congestive heart failure. Robert was loved and cherished by all for his sense of humor, adventure, generosity and insistence on always receiving a senior discount!

“Bob” was born in 1947 to George and Kathleen Asleson (some say with a football and a road map in his hands). After graduating from Charles City High School in 1966, he went on to play collegiate football at Northern Iowa Area Community College. This was followed by one semester at the University of Northern Iowa before ultimately finishing his playing career at Kansas State Teachers College, known today as Emporia State University. In 1983, Bob also received his Master of Science in Industrial Sciences from Colorado State University.

After graduating with his teaching degree, Bob and his first wife Sue Ellen Weber of

Mason City, IA, hit the road-relocating to Kansas City, KS, where he accepted a teaching position at Washington High School. After two years at WHS, and the birth of his first daughter Angelica, Bob and his family relocated to Colorado in 1973. He soon began teaching at the new Columbine High School and eventually became it’s head football coach, in addition to coaching wrestling and track. While in Lakewood, Bob and Sue celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Ali, in 1975. They moved to the Columbine valley shortly after. “Coach A” as he was known, was an integral part of Columbine’s teaching and coaching staff until his retirement in 2004.

After separating from his wife Sue, Bob reconnected with an old classmate, Dianne Cardos of Charles City, IA. Dianne would loyally remain by his side for the next 30 years until his passing, serving as his love, best friend, traveling companion and the yin to his yang.

Despite his retirement, Bob managed to merge his passion for both sports and travel serving as the team bus driver for The Colorado School of Mines athletic teams from 2004-2006 at the request of his dear friend Mike Marsh. Additionally, Coach A served as the head coach for the semi-professional Colorado Reapers of the Colorado Football Conference for five years. His salary? Beer and pizza. The real reward was coaching many of his former Columbine players, whom he truly loved.

After retirement, Bob and Dianne split time between Colorado and Iowa before ultimately moving home to the Charles City area full-time. Bob took pride in having visited 45 of the continental United States and loved history and art. He also would not hesitate to ask if he could sleep on your floor (literally) for a night…or two. He was a lot of things, but shy was not one of them.

Bob had a deep love for all the friends he made along his journey. Whether it was traveling with the Hartwells, coaching wrestling with his dear friend Mike Marsh, or talking shop (literally and figuratively) with the numerous teaching and coaching colleagues he valued from the Columbine community, Bob’s life was full of joy and laughter.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, George and Kathleen, and his brothers George and Jim. Bob is survived by his ex-wife Sue Asleson (Weber), daughters Angelica (James) Brauckmuller and Ali (Rick) Figurin. Bob is also survived by his brother Jerry Asleson, sister Jane (Jeruld) Marsh, and sister-in-law Ann (George) Asleson, along with several loving nieces and nephews across the country. He also served as a father-figure and mentor to his nephews in Colorado.

Bob is survived by (and also lucky enough to be a “bonus” dad, grandfather and life- partner to) Dianne Cardos and her daughters Noelle (Rick) Kostecki and their daughters Annalise and Ava, Nicolle (Gilbert) Reyna and their daughter Sophia, Meggan (Gene) Macias and their children Geno, Isabel and Dallas, son John (Tricia) Cardos and their children Johnny and Vivian. The light of Bob’s life were these kids, he was VERY proud of each and every one of them!

To honor Bob and celebrate his life, there will be an open-house at Charles City’s Wildwood municipal golf course on June 18th from 4-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to the “Robert Dean Asleson Estate” for contribution to a memorial of the family’s choosing. Please address all mailings to: Angelica Brauckmuller at 13450 Clermont Street, Thornton CO 80241.

And as Bob would say…Go Hawkeyes!