Early in the morning, on January 13, 2025, Bob left this world and entered the presence of Jesus his Savior. What a glorious day, his first day of heaven, set free from the ravages of cancer and set free to seeing Jesus face-to-face and hearing the resounding words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord!”

Bob was born in Spokane, Washington on September 25, 1953, the only child of John Wilbur Towne and Ruth Ann King Towne. His younger years were spent in Rosalia, Washington where he spent hours playing with cousins on the farm, putting pennies on the tracks, counting the stars at night, and staying outside all day. His family later moved to Pullman where he attended junior high, high school, and Washington State University.

Bob became a Christian on March 17, 1971 during a Young Life camp on the Oregon coast. He had a consuming, inner desire to know Jesus more and more and to share Him with as many people as possible. He started several Young Life clubs around the Pullman area and eventually went on staff in Salinas, California and Fargo, North Dakota/Moorhead, Minnesota. It was there that he met Sheri Lynn Nelstead at a leadership recruitment meeting. She said yes to becoming a leader and two years later said yes to becoming his wife.

In the middle 1980’s, they moved to the Tacoma, Washington area and raised four children, their pride and joy. Bob worked as an audio engineer, producing Christian radio programs for numerous pastors. He ran his own business, Towne House Communications, and was grateful that he ended up having a fulfilling vocation that reached literally millions.

Underlying all his hobbies, activities, and volunteer work was the driving force to do things that were “eternally significant.” Volunteering as a Young Life leader, he took hundreds of teenagers to camp. He was a natural musician and played acoustic, electric, and bass guitars on worship teams, for Young Life, for children’s ministries, and especially for his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed working in the garden and was a master at growing flower and vegetable plants from seeds collected the prior year. In his later years he became a ski instructor and shared his love of the mountains with many.

Bob is survived by his wife and soulmate of forty-three years, Sheri; his four children: Alison (Kyle) Olson, John (Callie) Towne, Benjamin Towne, and Michael (Jenna) Towne; and five grandchildren: Elijah and Lily Olson, and Adeline, Zoe, and Gideon Towne.

Memorial gifts can be made to a local Young Life Campers’ Scholarship Fund of your choice.

Memorial Keepers (2)

Robert "Bob" John Towne