Robert William Pell

Robert William "Bob" Pell August 7, 1937 ~ April 22, 2014 Robert William "Bob" Pell passed away unexpectedly April 22, 2014, in Conconully, WA. Bob was born August 7, 1937, in Omaha, NE. He spent his early years in Los Angeles, CA with his parents, Kermit and Vera Pell and his younger sister, Kathleen. Bob graduated from Washington High School in Los Angeles in 1955, with a football scholarship and spent that summer motorcycling throughout Europe with close friends. On returning, he attended Wenatchee Valley College, met his soon-to-be bride, Sharon Lee Thulean and played football for Hall of Fame Coach, Don Corryell, playing with the winning team for the Junior College National Championship. He continued his college education at Western Washington, married Sharon and graduated with a BA in Education. They moved back to Wenatchee, where Bob taught and coached for the next 30 years at Pioneer Junior High and Wenatchee High School. During this time, he and Sharon became the proud parents of Lisa (Pell) Douglass and Susan (Pell) Kansky, always known as "his girls!" Bob worked for 40 years for the Forest Service, beginning as a Smoke Jumper, then working and managing the Wenatchee and Moses Lake Tanker Base. He often stated that he made the change since it "made no sense to jump out of a perfectly good airplane!" Bob married Mary Jean Poirier in January 1996, and they split their time between Conconully, WA (his favorite!) and Sun City West, AZ. Bob was a highly respected teacher, piloting the Outdoor Education Program and working with many students in many ways. His passion for airplanes always brought out the "boy" in him. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jean Pell; his daughters, Lisa (Gar) Douglass of Wenatchee and Suzy (Scott) Kansky of Kirkland; his stepsons, Mike (Maureen) Poirier of Wenatchee, Scott (Jennifer) Poirier of Olympia, and Dan (Kathy) Poirier of Rogersville, TN; his grandchildren, Kamron, Haylee, Courtney, Jordan, Abbie, Emilie, Libbie, Aaron, Jameson, Gavin, and Katy; his sister, Kathleen (Bill) Bitting of Pacific Palisades, CA; and his loyal dog and sidekick, Tova. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vera and Kermit Pell; stepdaughter, Lynn Poirier; and Sharon (Thulean) Priszner. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 17, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the American Legion Post 10, 208 N. Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations may be made to the National Smoke Jumpers Association at 10 Judy Lane, Chico, CA 95926 or the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society.

Robert William Pell

August 7, 1937 - April 23, 2014