Bob Kasmer

Bob Kasmer, A Self-Made Man Only recently, a friend remarked, #8220;Bob, you must be one-hundred years old with all the stories and lives you#8217;ve lived.#8221; And so, though his time with us ended too soon, we are heartened in our knowledge that he has lived a rich and full life, filled with diverse experiences, intimate relationships and a passion for learning and personal understanding. Bob died of a heart attack on August 12th, 2011, while hiking with a dear friend at Spanish Creek. He was born in Detroit, MI on August 11, 1951, the second son of Eleanor Levine and Alex Kasmer. His wife, Cathy Cooper, and children Fletcher and Libby, all of Bozeman, survive him. Additionally, his mother, brothers Russ and Rick, and sister Carol, survive. He faced various challenges in childhood, including his own father#8217;s death when he was just 15. His cultural and familial environments pushed him into the trades, where he became a journeyman carpenter. Bob exuded a physical confidence that came from a lifetime of using his hands and his body #8211; a characteristic that defined him long after he moved on from carpentry. He had a fierce intellectual curiosity that drove him to pursue a higher education in clinical social work. His work as a therapist, stretching over 25 years, was both a challenge and an incredible source of pride for him. He displayed great devotion in helping people, and always gave the most of his time and energy and passion to his clients. His insights and kind voice helped innumerable people through difficult times and situations. He was a devoted husband, father and friend, and strove to model for his children and clients the values he believed to be most important. To his children, he imbued his love for the outdoors and the landscape #8211; and a curiosity for adventure that first brought him to Montana and Glacier National Park more than thirty years ago. With his wife, he shared his passion for horses and riding; travel and cultural exploration; social advocacy and political action. He was humble, unassuming and avoided the limelight, but never shirked his duty, and quickly embraced responsibility when the need arose. His values and ethnic background influenced him to pursue social justice issues, and he actively defended minority rights and causes. He was generous to a fault, donating thousands of hours of service over the years to those less fortunate; through Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Eagle Mount, group homes, Wounded Warriors and through his practice. He was always willing to lend a compassionate ear to listen to someone#8217;s troubles, or to lend his hand to someone in need. Bob touched so many people in this community and beyond; in turn, he valued the friendships that the community provided him. We (his family) would like to thank everyone who has stepped forward and shared memories of Bob and provided support in these trying times. His death came at a happy time in his and our lives, and the support we have received from the community has been a bittersweet reminder of the impact he had on us all. We would like to invite all those who knew and loved Bob to join us on August 27th between the hours of 4-8 p.m. at Eagle Mount, to share stories and jokes while lifting a glass in his honor. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com