Robert Eugene Howell, 88, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died March 27, 2014, at Emeritus Assisted Living, 205 E. Anton, in Coeur d’Alene.

Bob was born July 9, 1925, to Robert and Ruth Howell in Leon, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm and attended Leon High School.

Bob met Dorothy Asplund in Coeur d’Alene, and they were later married in Kansas City, Mo. A year later, they moved to Moline, Ill., where Bob attended DeVry Technical Institute of Chicago in 1956 and '57. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Culver City, Calif., where Bob continued to work in electronics at Litton Industries until 1969, at which time he established the family business, Howell’s Commercial Gardening and Power Sweeping.

In 1982, Bob and Dorothy sold the business and family home, and bought a 35 foot fifth wheel trailer. They traveled the U.S. and Canada for nine years, and then reestablished a permanent home in Coeur d’Alene. Bob enjoyed gardening, his many friends, and he and Dorothy attended the Church of the Nazarene in Coeur d’Alene.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Ruth Howell; son, Ronald; and brother, Richard of Chico, Calif. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, at home; sons: Gail, of Leon, Iowa, and Roger, of North Hills, Calif.; daughters: Julie Salazar of Coeur d’Alene, and Laurie Wilson of North Carolina; four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 12, at Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene, 4000 N. 4th St., Coeur d’Alene. Memorials can be sent to North Idaho Cancer Center, c/o Kootenai Health Foundation, 2003 Lincoln Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814. Please visit Bob’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com