We celebrate the life of our beloved and most cherished Robert Melvin Bode as he has gone to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Jan. 15, 2018. A celebration to honor his life and love will be held Feb. 2, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Faith Center Church in Eureka. All who call Robert family or friend are invited to come and celebrate.

Rob was born Oct. 6, 1951 in Eureka and was raised by his parents, Melvin and Barbara Bode. Rob, the middle child of three boys, spent his early years racing go carts, riding motorcycles and auto-crossing dune buggies with his brothers Mike and Chris. As a young man he began a love of restoring Porsches and Volkswagens that carried on throughout his life, and which he shared with his son Luke. During those years he was always under a hood and covered in grease.

He met the love of his life, Kay Hindley, when they were both in the 10th grade at a local family camp spot called “French’s.” They later married in 1975 at Faith Center Church in Eureka. After graduating from Eureka High School in 1970 he obtained his college education at Humboldt State University with an Industrial Arts degree. He also obtained a vocational and teaching credential along with a contractor’s license. He then began pouring his creative inspiration into the construction of his home using unique redwood and skilled craftsmanship which was evident in all of his work. In 1978, he and Kay were blessed with their son, Luke, and three years later their daughter, Kate.

Rob touched many lives through his work, teachingand volunteering. He worked as an independent contractor and taught mechanical drafting and building trades at McKinleyville High School and Eureka High School. He took his high school students to Mexico to build orphanages and to re-build after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and later would take a local youth group to Mexico to build homes for families with little or no income. He also coached cross-country and track at the high schools, and he would take his many athletes to compete in local meets.

Rob was a family man and lived his life based on the love of God. He was incredibly generous with his time and energy and believed in the good in all people. His faith was demonstrated and exemplified through God’s love by the way he loved. He lived by the verse in the Holy Bible John 4: 7-8 – “Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences intimate knowledge of him. The one who doesn’t love has yet to know god, for GOD IS LOVE.”

He loved outdoor activities, including running cross country, backpacking, snowboarding, stand up paddle boarding and especially windsurfing, which he took up in the 1980s and continued through the rest of his life. His favorite spots to catch the wind in his sails were Crescent City Bay, San Francisco Bay, Big Lagoon, Humboldt Bay, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Coast and Maui.

Rob was a very gifted and creative man who had many talents, who could fix and build whatever anybody needed and did it with a generous, serving heart. He was a very loving husband, father and grandfather who would spend hours building with his son, dancing with his daughter and playing with his grandchildren with “his bride,” Kay. The mark he left on the faces and in the minds of those he loved shows the value and love of God. They are delicately written in the words of his beloved granddaughters:

“He builds houses for people that don’t have houses.”

“He is our only hero.” - Granddaughter Lila

“Grandpa is the best Grandpa ever.”

“God loves Grandpa and everyone in the whole world. He is special to God.” — Granddaughter Makena

Rob is proceeded in death by his grandparents, Jesse and Jennie Hoyt and Bob and Bernice McKeown; parents Melvin Bode and Barbra Morse; in-laws Ken and Carol Hindley; and sister-in-law Kim Bury. He is survived by his wife, Kay Bode; son, Luke Bode; daughter, Kate Bode-Guzman (Marcelo); grandchildren Lila, Makena and Analei; brothers Mike Bode (Audrey) and Cris Bode (Denise); sister-in-law Lisa Ross (Jim); nephews and nieces Ryan Bode (Melissa), Stephanie Bode-Schneider (Travis), Rachel Bury (Matt) and Shalea Zepeda (Raul), Jesse Bode; cousins Jeff Brazil (Brenda) and Jenny Anderson (Chris); and many close family and friends.

Rob enjoyed being strong and courageous in life with the strength placed in him by the loving nature of God. He can now “chase the wind” with his Lord in Heaven for eternity. He was loved beyond words and will be missed by all who were blessed to have known him.

If you are inclined to give in honor of Rob’s life please consider donating to Habitat for Humanity, EHS cross-country and track teams, MHS cross-country and track teams or a charity of your choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Rob Bode’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.