Robert Lee Swenson, a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband, and friend, passed away on February 8, 2025, at the age of 88. Born on August 6, 1936, to Doris Wheeler Swenson Knabb and Theodore Reuben Swenson. Bob lived fully and experienced a lot. He filled his life with a dedication to his family, friends, and a love of adventure.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, William (Bill) Swenson. Bob is survived by his wife Adele, his four children: Cody (wife Anne), Will (wife Audra), Leea (husband Shawn) , and Bobby (wife Erin), and his 12 grandchildren: Christian (wife Helena) , Brenner, Fiona (husband Brady), Rose, Bridger, Sawyer, Zoe, Sally, Sage, Taj, Ryder, and Ronan. He also leaves behind one great-grandchild, Mackenzie.

Bob attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School before going on to serve two years in the military, a service he was immensely proud of. He went on to study at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he discovered his love for volleyball, snow skiing, and his first wife, Sally Hale. He later attended the University of Utah. Bob earned two doctorates—one in Recreation Education and another as a chiropractor. He taught at Utah State College and Mesa College, where he
worked among other things as a ski instructor and a baseball coach.

Together with his wife, Sally, he co-founded the Hale Center Theater in South Salt Lake City, an institution that has brought joy to the Utah community for decades. In his later years, Bob married Adele Wynkoop, a companion who shared his zest for life and his affection for big, wonderful dogs.

Bob lived deeply. He went river rafting off 20-foot waterfalls in New Zealand and body surfed in Fiji. He attended Super Bowl 48 and the Daytona 500. He loved Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats, rode the bob sleds in Calgary and Park City, won racquetball tournaments at the YMCA, rode motorcycles and dune buggies in the desert, was an excellent snow and water-skier, was a certified PSIA ski instructor, and helped found the Men’s Volleyball Program at BYU. The only thing that could tame Bob’s adventures was age.

Bob did everything possible to support his kids. He and Sally would leave at dawn on Fridays to drive from Salt Lake City to see Cody’s high school football game in Glendale, California on Friday night, then, after the game, turn around immediately after the game and drive back through the night to catch Will’s game in Salt Lake on Saturday morning. If he loved a song, he would listen to it 100 times in a row back-to-back. He loved Neil Diamond (and he got to meet him and tell him so). He loved whipping up a gargantuan batch of chocolate chip cookies for the hordes of nephews and nieces at the ranch. He loved those days where he could ski in the morning, then drive down the canyon, and golf in the afternoon. He loved Dr. Pepper and the Denver Broncos. He loved summers at the Hale family ranch and trips to Lake Powell. He loved BYU volleyball and getting crab sandwiches with his buddies. He nurtured friendships as deeply as anyone ever has. More than anything, though, he loved bragging about his kids. And he did. Relentlessly.

Over his 88 years, his sometimes gruff exterior gradually melted, and he became a real softie, quick to cry and express his love and gratitude.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday, Feb 23rd at 6pm, at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater, Pleasant Grove, Utah. Come and share a story about Bob.

Interment with military honors, Tuesday, February 25th at 11:00 am at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Bluffdale Utah.

Rest in peace, Bob. You’ll always be with us, but especially when the wind is in our face at Alta, when the sun is on our skin at Lake Powell, and when we laugh and play together at the ranch.

Per Bob’s request, in lieu of flowers, please support the arts by seeing a show or making a donation to The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater in Pleasant Grove.

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