Bob Tebow Obituary-Robert “Bob” R. Tebow II, the father of former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, has died at the age of 78 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Bob Tebow passed away on April 23, 2026, leaving behind a legacy centered on Christian faith, family, missionary work and service to others.
His death was announced publicly by Tim Tebow, who shared an emotional tribute describing his father as a “hero of the faith.” Tim said his father had been looking forward to heaven and expressed his belief that Bob was now “home” with Jesus.
Bob Tebow was much more than the father of a famous athlete. He was a Baptist missionary, minister, husband, father and grandfather whose work in the Philippines helped shape the values that became central to his family’s life.
His influence also extended into the work of the Tim Tebow Foundation, where he served as a founding board member. The foundation later honored his life and described his commitment to ministry and sharing the Gospel.
Bob Tebow Dies at 78
Robert “Bob” R. Tebow II died on April 23, 2026, at the age of 78, according to his official obituary.
The funeral-home notice states that Bob died following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Tim Tebow had previously spoken publicly about his father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, which dated back to 2016.
Bob’s illness had progressed significantly in his later years. Reports noted that he had become dependent on a wheelchair, but his family continued to emphasize his faith and his commitment to his ministry rather than allowing his illness to define his final years.
For the Tebow family, his death marked the end of a long life devoted to his beliefs, his family and his desire to serve others.
What Was Bob Tebow’s Cause of Death?
Bob Tebow’s official obituary states that he passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that can affect movement and other aspects of health over time. In Bob’s case, the disease had been part of his life for approximately a decade before his death.
Tim Tebow’s public announcement did not provide a separate medical explanation beyond describing his father as having died and celebrating his faith. Other reporting has likewise connected Bob’s final years with his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
His family ultimately chose to emphasize his life and faith rather than focus on the medical details surrounding his final days.
Bob Tebow and His Son Tim Tebow
Bob Tebow was best known to the wider public as the father of Tim Tebow, the former University of Florida star, Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback.
But Tim’s football career was only one part of Bob’s legacy.
Tim has frequently spoken about the influence his parents had on his life and values. Bob’s commitment to Christianity and missionary work became a central example for his children.
When Tim announced his father’s death, his message focused heavily on faith and the belief that Bob had entered heaven.
Tim recalled asking his father shortly before his death what he looked forward to most about heaven.
His answer was simply “Jesus.”
That exchange became one of the most poignant details in the tributes following Bob’s death.
A Life of Christian Ministry
Bob Tebow devoted much of his adult life to Christian ministry.
He and his wife, Pamela “Pam” Tebow, eventually moved their family to the Philippines in 1985, where they worked as Baptist missionaries.
Their ministry focused on sharing the Gospel and serving local communities.
The family spent years overseas, and the experience became an important part of the Tebow family’s identity.
Bob’s missionary work was not simply a professional occupation. It was a central expression of his faith.
His commitment to ministry also influenced the way his children were raised and helped establish the values that Tim Tebow would later carry into his football career, public speaking and charitable work.
Bob Tebow and the Philippines
The Philippines played an especially important role in the Tebow family’s history.
Bob and Pam moved there as missionaries and established a ministry that included outreach to local communities and children.
Bob’s work eventually included an orphanage ministry, and Tim later helped raise funds for his father’s efforts while he was still a student-athlete.
The family remained closely connected to the Philippines even after returning to the United States.
Tim Tebow’s own life began in the Philippines, where he was born in Manila in 1987.
The family’s missionary experience therefore became one of the defining chapters of Bob’s life and an important part of the story behind the Tebow family’s public identity.
The Tebow Family’s Faith
Faith was at the center of Bob Tebow’s family life.
His public legacy is closely associated with his Christian beliefs, missionary work and commitment to sharing the Gospel.
That influence became particularly visible in Tim Tebow’s own public life.
From his college football career at the University of Florida to his professional career and later charitable work, Tim has consistently spoken openly about his Christian faith.
Bob’s influence was therefore not limited to his immediate family.
Through Tim’s public platform, many people became familiar with the values Bob had emphasized throughout his son’s upbringing.
Bob Tebow’s Role With the Tim Tebow Foundation
Bob Tebow was also connected to the Tim Tebow Foundation as a founding board member.
The organization, established by Tim Tebow in 2010, works with vulnerable communities and supports initiatives involving faith, children, human trafficking prevention, orphan care, medical services and special-needs ministry.
Following Bob’s death, the foundation highlighted his commitment to ministry and described his life as one devoted to advancing his Christian faith.
His involvement with the foundation represented a continuation of work he had already pursued for decades.
Rather than simply being associated with the organization because of his son’s fame, Bob brought his own experience in ministry and missionary work to its mission.
A Father, Husband and Grandfather
Beyond his public work, Bob Tebow was first and foremost a family man.
He was a devoted husband to Pam and the father of five children.
His family relationships were central to his life, and his role as a father extended far beyond raising his children.
In later years, he also became a grandfather.
For Tim and the rest of the Tebow family, his passing represents the loss of the person who helped establish the family’s foundation of faith and service.
The public tributes following his death have therefore focused as much on his role within the family as on his missionary career.
Tim Tebow’s Emotional Tribute
Tim Tebow announced his father’s death through an emotional social-media message accompanied by family photographs.
Rather than describing his father simply in terms of grief, Tim presented Bob’s death through the lens of his Christian faith.
He wrote that heaven had “ushered in a hero of the faith” and said that his father was now home forever.
Tim also said he did not view his father as lost, explaining that he believed he knew where Bob was.
The message reflected a theme that had characterized Bob’s life: an unwavering belief in Christianity and the promise of heaven.
For Tim, that faith became a source of comfort while saying goodbye to his father.
Remembering Bob Tebow’s Final Conversation
One of the most touching details shared by Tim concerned a conversation he had with his father shortly before Bob died.
Tim said he asked his father what he looked forward to most about heaven.
Bob’s answer was “Jesus.”
For a family whose life had been shaped by Christian ministry, the exchange became a fitting reflection of Bob’s beliefs.
Tim described his father as someone who was eager to see Jesus face-to-face.
That final conversation has become an important part of how Tim and others are remembering Bob.
Bob Tebow’s Legacy of Service
Bob Tebow leaves behind a legacy that extends well beyond his connection to football.
His life included decades of ministry, missionary work, family service and charitable involvement.
He helped establish a missionary presence in the Philippines.
He raised a family around strong Christian principles.
He supported efforts to care for vulnerable children.
And he played a role in the development of the Tim Tebow Foundation.
For people who knew him personally, his greatest legacy may be less about any particular organization and more about the way he lived his beliefs.
Bob Tebow and Tim’s Athletic Career
Tim Tebow’s extraordinary football career brought national attention to the Tebow family.
At the University of Florida, Tim won two national championships and the Heisman Trophy before entering the NFL.
His professional career included the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Throughout those years, Tim frequently credited his parents and his upbringing for helping shape his character.
Bob’s influence could therefore be seen indirectly through the way Tim approached competition, public life and charitable work.
The elder Tebow’s legacy is intertwined with the values that his son carried onto some of the biggest stages in American sports.
Bob Tebow Obituary Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert “Bob” R. Tebow II |
| Age | 78 |
| Date of Death | April 23, 2026 |
| Cause of Death | Long battle with Parkinson’s disease |
| Wife | Pamela “Pam” Tebow |
| Children | Five, including Tim Tebow |
| Known For | Christian ministry and missionary work |
| Missionary Work | Philippines |
| Tim Tebow Foundation | Founding board member |
| Faith | Baptist/Christian ministry |
| Memorial Service | May 7, 2026, Jacksonville, Florida |
The official obituary confirms his age, date of death and long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Celebration of Life for Bob Tebow
A Celebration of Life service for Bob Tebow was scheduled for May 7, 2026, at The Church of Eleven22’s San Pablo Campus in Jacksonville, Florida.
The service provided family, friends, ministry colleagues and members of the wider community an opportunity to honor Bob’s life and reflect on the influence he had on others.
Tim Tebow later encouraged people not simply to remember his father but to consider how they could continue the missionary work and purpose that defined Bob’s life.
Remembering Bob Tebow
Bob Tebow’s life was defined by faith, family and service.
He spent decades working to share his Christian beliefs with others, particularly through missionary work in the Philippines.
He raised five children with Pam and helped establish a family culture centered on faith and service.
He supported his son’s athletic journey while also demonstrating that life could be about something larger than sports.
His influence ultimately extended through the Tim Tebow Foundation and the many charitable efforts connected with its mission.
For Tim Tebow and the rest of his family, however, Bob was not primarily a missionary, board member or public figure.
He was Dad.
That is the role that will likely matter most to those closest to him.
Final Tribute to Bob Tebow
Robert “Bob” R. Tebow II died on April 23, 2026, at the age of 78 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He leaves behind a legacy of Christian ministry, missionary service, family devotion and charitable work.
As the father of Tim Tebow, Bob became known to millions of people through his son’s football career. But his own life was defined long before Tim became a national sports figure.
He and Pam devoted years to missionary work in the Philippines, where they served local communities and built a ministry centered on their Christian faith.
Later, Bob became a founding board member of the Tim Tebow Foundation, helping extend that commitment to service through a new generation of charitable work.
For Tim, his father’s legacy is ultimately one of faith.
The final words Tim shared from their conversation about heaven—“Jesus”—captured the belief that Bob carried throughout his life.
Bob Tebow will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, missionary, minister and man of deep faith whose influence reached far beyond his immediate family.
May his family, friends, ministry colleagues and everyone touched by his work find comfort in the life he lived and the legacy he leaves behind.
Rest in peace, Bob Tebow.