Kevin Grier Robare, 65, passed through the gates of heaven on Feb. 13 after a 17-year journey with heart disease.

He was born to Jimmy and Billie Robare in Corvallis and moved to North Albany at 6 months old. He graduated from Albany Union High School in 1968. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1969, was assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk and toured three times to Vietnam. In 1973 he met his lifelong sweetheart, Karon Dunbar, in San Diego. They were married Nov. 30, 1974, and moved to Salem to start their family.

He was a Union Sheetmetal Worker for 25 years by trade working on large commercial buildings in Portland such as the Performing Arts Center, Convention Center and local hospitals. Kevin was a member of the Salem Jeep Club and Pacific Northwest 4-Wheel Drive Association. He was a longtime attender of Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer.

His interests included hot rods, Jeeps, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. Best memories with family were spent vacationing and camping. His last big project was restoring a 1985 CJ-7 with his best friend of 50-plus years, Greg Peters.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Karon; three children, Jeremy, Brandon, and Krista and husband Troy; and one cherished granddaughter, Emily Grace.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Paul Robare; and his beloved Rottweiler, Bear Dawg.

A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at Dayspring Fellowship.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or Best Friends Animal Society.