Bob was the second son born to Daniel J.Ocenosak and Agnes M. Valley, in Prairie Du Chien,Wisconsin. His siblings were older Brother Don (D), younger brother Frank (Laurel) of Marion,Iowa and younger sister Marilyn of Prairie Du Chien.
Brothers Bob and Frank were excited to leave the family dairy farm to join the Air Force and Army, respectively. As Bob recalled, he thought "he'd died and gone to Heaven" when he traded the daily early morning milking chore for the sound of taps.
At his last assignment at Mather Air Force Base, he met and married Helen Rogers and together they had five children: Michael (Patti), James (Elaine), Theresa (Neil), Judith (Bill) and David (Jessica). The children grew up in Rancho Cordova, which was the last family residence. Bob's work history included working at Vangas, driving the Regional Transit bus city route and a school bus while attending Sierra College, Aerojet, and McClellan Air Force Base.
Bob took well to fatherhood and played a very active role in raising his children, including much time spent teaching life lessons to neighborhood youngsters as well, such as instructions in auto upkeep and repair--which was also a requirement for daughter Judith with her first vehicle.
His daughters' girlfriends also benefited from Bob's love for dancing, for one by one they happily succeeded in accomplishing dances other than the chicken dance due to his patience and exuberance. This was accomplished while attending annual Octoberfests at Turn Verein Hall, which he had joined with an invitation from longtime acquaintance, Ann Carroll.
Bob gained three additional family members, Mary Ann McDonald, R. John Carroll (Lynn), and Joan Carroll Kudin when Bob and Ann were married in 1983. All eight children, adults by then, had attended the same high school and church, so their acquaintance was already established.
In 40 years of their marriage, Bob and Ann shared interests and activities together, mostly connected to music, as they sang with several choirs, including the Sacramento State University choir, the Turn Verein Harmonie Choir, the Sacramento City College Choir, and the Cathedral Choir.
In 2000, they joined the Renaissance Society, an organization formed for retirees, and they spent some of their most happy years with the 'singing for fun' group, a class which took them to retirement homes, entertaining those with Alzheimer's disease. This was one of many 'give back' activities they participated in. Other volunteer programs of involvement were: fundraising for Clara's House, Family Promise, Get on the Bus, Just Faith, and many others.
They traveled with the Turn Verein Harmonie Choir for performances in several German cities across the country. Sadly, they missed out on visiting Czechoslovakia, the land of Bob's forefathers.
With the Sacramento City College Choir, they were thrilled to try out the acoustics in the famous Sydney Opera House.
Bob retired from Sacramento State University after 30 years on staff in audio-visual, ending in the science building repairing and fabricating various equipment; all of which were challenges he really enjoyed. He was a "fixer", always innovative.
Bob will always be remembered as a friend to everyone, and everyone was a friend to him. Strangers become friends, and all were accepted unconditionally, for he held no animosity against anyone. His corny jokes were endured and enjoyed by all.
It could be said that he was put into this world to give joy to others, because that is what he did. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Bob is survived by his wife Ann, his sister Marilyn and Brother Frank, his aforementioned eight children, thirteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren – also many other relatives in Wisconsin and Iowa.
A visitation for Bob will be held Thursday, February 16, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home, 5401 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95819.
A funeral mass will occur Friday, February 17, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 3235 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, with a reception to follow from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM.
A committal service will follow the reception at 2:00 PM at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 6509 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Robert J. Ocenosak to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Renaissance Society of Sacramento.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nicoletticuljisherbergerfunerals.com for the Ocenosak family.
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