Bob Finsveen passed away at home from a massive pulmonary hemorrhage on May 4, 2015, three days before his 67^th birthday. His partner of 34 years, Andrew Dixon, was at his side, as was his dear friend Cecelia Hennigan.

Bob’s birthplace is recorded to be Hopkins, Minnesota. His birth date was set as May 7, 1948. He preferred “Bob” to his given name, Robert Arnold. Growing up in Minneapolis, he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in 1963 and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1966. After briefly attending Metropolitan Community College and the University of Minnesota, he enlisted in the United States Navy on August 3, 1967, where he trained to be a Corpsman and worked as a dental technician assigned to the Marine Corps. He wore a Marine uniform.

Following his honorable discharge on March 6, 1970, he moved to Portland, Oregon to work in construction. Later he lived in Corvallis and then Eugene, where he managed Dean and Cecelia Hennigan’s flower and gift shop and worked in their wholesale floral supply warehouse for almost ten years.

In the fall of 1980, Bob met Andrew, the love of his life, at a church conference in Tacoma. They became partners at 10:03 p.m. on New Years Eve, 1980, and remained together ever since. In June of 1981, following the death of Bob’s beloved mother, Gunni, they moved to the Tri-Cities. Bob and Drew both worked out at Hanford for University Nuclear at WPPSS 1 and 4, and later, for Burns & Roe at WPPSS Unit 2, where Bob was a staff administrator in Site Administration.

In 1985 Bob began the work that became his career when he was hired by Benton-Franklin Community Action Committee (CAC). Starting as a caseworker, he was promoted to case manager and then to department director. After retiring once, he returned as deputy director of the agency for nearly ten more years. He retired permanently on July 31, 2012, having served for 27 years with CAC. During his tenure, he worked as hard as he could to facilitate accessibility to the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance program.

In his spare time, Bob enjoyed camping, RVing, hiking, swimming, cooking, and gardening, which he excelled at. He single-handedly transformed his home’s acreage into an oasis of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Bob loved trees of all types and enjoyed spending time on ocean beaches. “Uffda” was his favorite expression.

Bob will be remembered by friends and loved ones for his unique sense of humor, his love of animals and gardening, and the tremendous kindness of heart he tried, but failed, to camouflage beneath a feisty exterior.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Gunhild and Arnold Finsveen. Survivors include his life partner Drew Dixon, his uncle Ed Victorsen, his aunt Veown Victorsen, cousin LaNee Willey, and numerous other cousins.

Visitation will take place at Events at Sunset at Sunset Gardens on Sunday May 17, with private viewing starting at 1 p.m. and public viewing at 2 p.m. A Funeral Service will follow at 3 p.m., with a reception afterwards. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Discretionary Senior Assistance Fund of CAC, online at http://www.bfcac.org  or by mail to Benton-Franklin Community Action Committee Inc., 720 W. Court St., Pasco, WA 99301.