Robert "Bob" Alan Ham

Robert “Bob” Alan Ham was born on November 9, 1948, in Tuxedo Park, NY to William Ham Sr. and June (Roseburg) Ham. Bob passed into his eternal rest with Jesus Christ on July 3, 2023, in Bellingham, WA.

Bob is survived by his wife Carol (Gerber) Ham, daughter Christine “Christy” Ham, brothers William Ham Jr. (wife Bettye), Richard Ham (wife Judy), sister Janet (husband Gene Sedy), and brother-in-law Laurence Gerber (wife Gina). He was loved and adored by 15 nieces and nephews: David, Jennifer, Cynthia, Thomas, Daniel, Tyler, Eryn, Leah, Joseph, Catherine, Michael, Maren, Lydia, Jonathan, and Justin, as well as cousins Cheryl Berglund, Margret (Ham) White, and many more relations and beloved friends.

Bob attended Plainfield, IL schools from K-12, graduating in 1966, and still counted many fellow schoolmates as friends his entire life. While in high school Bob excelled in football and track, earning All Conference honors each year. Bob continued his football career at Joliet Junior College, earning again, First Team All Conference honors. During this same period, he also advanced through the American Red Cross swimming program and earned his lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor certificates. For several summer jobs, Bob was employed as a lifeguard and a swim instructor at nearby lakes and pools.

Bob was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing, sailing, canoeing, and mountaineering. Raised in a scouting family, Bob progressed from Cub Scout to Eagle Scout with Pack, Troop, and Explorer Post 82 in Plainfield. As a young adult Bob became the Explorer Post Advisor and led many memorable campouts and canoe trips for younger scouts.

In 1967, Bob was accepted into a five-year apprentice training program at Plainfield Tool & Die Company. Bob’s love of building things with his hands had finally become his life’s work. In 1971, Bob earned his Journeyman Tool, Die, and Mold Maker Certification. His first job as a Journeyman was at Panduit Corporation in Frankfort, IL.

During this busy time Bob also met his lifelong love and partner, Carol Gerber of Plainfield, and they were married on October 23, 1971, at Theodore Street Lutheran Church in Joliet, IL. Their first home was a rental in Joliet, but Bob and Carol soon began building their own new home in New Lenox, IL. In February 1979, Bob and Carol were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Christine (Christy).

The Ham family love of flying bit Bob early in life. Bob hand-built many flying model planes throughout his life, and he also earned his private pilot’s license. Attending the annual EAA Convention and Fly-In in Oshkosh, WI with his pilot father and family was a yearly highlight for many years. In May of 2019 Bob was thrilled to have a seat on the final home flight in Everett, WA of a vintage DC3 airplane before it departed for the 75th reunion and commemoration of the D-Day invasion.

In 1979, Bob accepted a call for a needed Tool and Die Maker at Oregon Chain Company of Portland, OR. Bob moved his young family to Sandy, OR truly embracing all the adventures the Pacific Northwest had to offer. While living in Sandy, Bob was introduced to mountaineering and enjoyed many climbs of Mt. Hood, Three Sisters, Mt. Bachelor, and Mt. Adams. In 1982 Bob accepted a position with Allsop Incorporated so Bob, Carol, and Christy moved again, this time to Bellingham where he remained a resident for the next 40 years. Bob also worked for Select Plastics in Everett, WA and owned his own tool and die company, BH Tooling.

Shortly after arriving in Bellingham, Bob’s love of sailboats was reborn. While in high school woodshop, Bob built his first sailboat, an all-wood handcrafted Sunfish. Wanting something bigger to explore Bellingham Bay and beyond, Bob purchased a 24-foot Windrose and gave it the Viking name of Kvack. Bob, along with friends and family enjoyed many trips exploring the bay and San Juan Islands. Bob enjoyed the time he could spend on Kvack even if he stayed in port, polishing and refinishing. In 1986, the most memorable sailing excursion occurred when Bob planned the Great Pirate Treasure Hunt. With a pirate map in a bottle and a pre-buried treasure chest full of costume jewelry and glass precious stones, the escapade was ready. Bob Captained Kvack with daughter Christy and cousins Cindy, Tom, and Dan to Inati Bay on Lummi Island where they followed the clues on the map and became instantly “rich”! Thirty-seven years later this trip remains a family legend.

Attending his first Bellingham Highland Games in 1983, Bob met, and was encouraged by Lou Ross and Bobby Dodd to try his hand at Scottish athletics. Bob instantly fell in love with the sport and became a fierce competitor. Just as rewarding, Bob loved welcoming new competitors, coaching others in the sport, and engaging the crowd. A descendent of the Morrison Clan, which was known for their superb metal work, Bob proudly wore the Morrison Tartan after learning that his Tool and Die profession was truly in his blood. For many summers, Bob, Carol, and Christy embraced their Scottish heritage and traveled to games all over the West Coast. Competing in the master class at the Seattle Highland Games, Bob set a record in the Light Hammer that stood for many years as well as winning Northwest Master Champion several years in a row. In 2016, Bob, Carol, and Christy enjoyed a month-long trip to Scotland. They thoroughly enjoyed the Scottish countryside and coasts and became immersed in Scottish culture, food, drink, and the opportunity to meet distant Morrison cousins to share family history and stories.

Bob eventually switched from competing to judging and organizing. Bob was a member and certified judge in the Scottish American Athletic Association. He was a past president of the Bellingham Highland Games Association and served as Athletic Director for several years at the Skagit Valley Highland Games. Bob was a recipient of the Isla J. Paterson Memorial Trophy for his constant support and encouragement of new athletes entering the sport as well as receiving the honor of Chieftain of the Games at several regional games. Christy continues Bob’s legacy in the highland games as Co-Athletic Director of the Skagit Valley Highland Games and Bellingham Scottish Gathering as well as serving as scorekeeper for many other games across the Pacific Northwest.

Both Bob and Carol grew up in the Lutheran Church, and their church family was always an integral part of their life together. Always a master craftsman, from fabricating highland athletics implements to the delicate china cutting for Carol’s many crafts, Bob was honored with the job of designing and crafting the two metal crosses that adorn the doors leading into the sanctuary at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Bellingham. Even after a hard-fought battle with illness over the past several years, Bob never lost faith, even proclaiming two days prior to passing “I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and I’m ready.”

Services in celebration of Bob’s life will be held on Saturday, September 23rd, 2023. A 12:00pm memorial service will be held at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2600 Lakeway Dr, Bellingham, WA 98229. Ceilidh with stories, music, and dinner to follow from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Broadway Hall, 1300 Broadway, Bellingham, WA 98225.

If you are unable to attend the service in person, you may watch the livestream here: http://www.ctslutheran.org/.livestream.html

In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in Bob’s name to the National Kidney Foundation or The Boy Scouts of America.