Robert Irwin Furth

Robert Furth July 6, 1943 - August 22, 2023

Like the great Tony Bennett before him, one of the last great crooners of the 20th century passed away in the entertainment mecca of Las Vegas on August 22, 2023 surrounded by the women he loved. Robert Furth (“Daddy Bob”) packed a lifetime of adventure, music, dancing, singing, golf and travel into his all-too-short 80 years.

With Scottish roots near the Emerald Isle, Bob was born with the gift of gab. A natural salesman who loved people, he’d strike up conversations with just about anyone nearby. A trip to the grocery store would lead to conversations with employees and fellow shoppers. Whether it was parking lots, restaurants, sidewalks, or elevators, Bob looked at other people as an opportunity to chat and ask them about their lives and most of all break out into a special song. Bob didn’t have a shy bone in his body, and he truly never really cared what others thought, a trait we should all embrace as a life lesson.

Bob was always on the GO-GO-GO. Everyone who knew him marveled at the energy he had every day (and night) well into his 60s. Trying to keep up with Bob was not for the faint-hearted. Only Parkinson’s disease would slow the frenetic pace with which he lived his life.

Raised in the small towns south of the Twin Cities with his parents and sister Barb, he spent his early working years in Lakeville and then Apple Valley selling real estate and raising a family. His legacy lives through his three daughters that were his pride and joy. The girls, Stacie, Lisa and Kim, made their way to college, marriages and careers. Each daughter went on to wed an Irishman (O’Malley, Kavanagh, and Peters) and the nickname Daddy Bob eventually gave way to Grand-Daddy Bob as his daughters produced five grandchildren, with lots more pictures added to the shoebox of memories he often carried with him when he traveled.

In the 1960s, Bob’s parents moved to Honolulu, Hawaii to escape the Minnesota winters. Visiting over the years, Bob came to love the warm weather and island life. He eventually relocated to Hawaii to be near his parents Patty and Norbert. Living steps away from the famous Waikiki Beach and endless Pacific Ocean with its mild trade winds was truly a dream come true.

It was in Hawaii that Bob met Billie Carroll, the last love of his life. Billie loved Bob’s good nature, energy and fun-loving spirit. She shared his love of music and dance and Bob’s passion for singing lots of karaoke. Bob had a truly great voice and belted out tunes at karaoke bars, weddings, parties or anywhere with a microphone. Bob and Billie later moved to Las Vegas to be closer to Billie’s sons Marty and Kenny. Billie and her sons deserve special thanks and recognition for embracing Bob as a true Islander and caring for Bob in his later years. Bob was grateful for the care Billie gave him every day as the Parkinson’s progressed. It was a level of care he never took for granted and he was deeply thankful to Billie for the love, care and support she provided daily as illness took its toll.

Bob’s smile, kind heart and tenacity for life will forever remain in the hearts of his family and friends. He leaves behind a legacy of love, determination and an unwavering commitment to living life to the fullest!

Go be with the stars Bob. We love and will miss you always.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests that donations be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in honoring Bob’s memory.

Bob was preceded in death by parents Norbert and Pattricia Furth. He is survived by his sister Barb Larson, daughters and son in laws, Stacie & Tim O’Malley, Lisa Marie & Tim Peters, Kim & Don Kavanagh, and five grandchildren, Brenden O’Malley, Kennan O’Malley, Lauren O’Malley, Braden Kavanagh and Christian Kavanagh.

Please join us in celebrating Bob’s vibrant life on Sunday October 8th from 2:00- 5:00 pm.

Please contact Lisa Furth at 651-260-0417.