Robert (Bob) passed away after leading a long and fulfilling life. He was preceded in death by his late wife Paulene Van Der Volgen; daughter Janell Van Der Volgen; father William Van Der Volgen; mother, Mary Van Der Volgen; brother, William Van Der Volgen; step-son, Terry Poole, and nephews Robert and Richard Van Der Volgen. He leaves son Robert Van Der Volgen, Jr. (Margo); daughters Nancy Stevens (Rick), and Carol Guild; step-daughter Romette Hitchcock (Les); sister, Gertrude Anne Mallan; 16 grandchildren: Justin, Sarah and Rebecca Van Der Volgen (Michael Gould), Emily, Christopher, Nathan, Elliott (Kate), Eric and Mallory Stevens, Derek Guild, Terry (JR) and Randy Poole, Eric Sorensen, Shannon Keola (Lloyd), Susan Dunlap and Larry Hitchcock; 13 great grandchildren: Makaila, Elias, Violet, Dahlia, Isabel, Millie, Theodore, Brandi Renee, Kalyias, Shilo, Riley, Brandi Nicole, and Sean; 2 great-great grandchildren: Hunter and Haiden; and 4 nieces and nephews: Margaret "Peggy" Voss, Ron Van Der Volgen (Linda), Ray Sheehan and Maureen Wheeler (Todd). Bob was born in San Francisco, CA and resided in Sacramento where he lived in the family home built by his dad. Bob and his wife, Paulene bought several acres of land in Auburn in the early 1970s, and worked hard over several years to clear the land. Proudly, Bob and Paulene built a home and relocated to Auburn in 1980, where they remained until their deaths. Bob quit high school at age 17 to serve his country during World War II. He joined the United States Navy on May 11, 1942 and completed boot camp in San Diego. Thereafter, he left for Radio School in Wisconsin, and was then stationed to Pier 92 in New York; finally stationed in Hawaii in 1944. Bob separated from service May 1946. Bob had two children with wife Mildred (Robert and Nancy) daughter Carol with Darlene; and daughter Janell with wife Paulene. Bob worked for the City of Sacramento as a Police Officer for 30 years, promoting to the rank of Detective; and retired in 1980, when he relocated to Auburn. Bob worked for Placer County in the 1980s and 1990s, meticulously caring for the buildings and grounds of various county properties. As a local police officer, Bob’s home was the local hangout for the neighborhood children. He was very involved with the kids of the neighborhood; something he enjoyed and took pride in. In December 1970, the neighborhood kids (17 of them) got together to show “Officer Bob” some love. They put their money together, which totaled one dollar, and one of the boys sent the money and a letter to a billboard advertising firm. The letter said “I have a very good friend and his name is Bob. He is a policeman…he fixes my tire. He helps me make things and he teaches me how to punch the punching bag. He also does nice things for my grandma and the other kids. He gives us candy at Christmas and lets us drive his jeep…Can you make a big poster with Merry Christmas to Bob from us?” The billboard firm and staff couldn’t resist the plea. They made a large Christmas Card to ‘Officer Bob from The Gang’ and put it on the 12-by-25 foot billboard, down the street from Bob’s house. Boy was Bob surprised by the huge sign! The cost of the sign was $250, which the firm gladly took care of. Besides taking pride in and assisting his community, Bob loved to go to the hills in his cherished WWII Willys Jeep (named AWOL). Bob belonged to and was a founding member of a local jeep club. He and his jeeping buddies and friends spent many days 4-wheeling, camping, and snowmobiling across California and Nevada, frequenting places such as the Rubicon Trail, Death Valley, and Wrights Lake, among many others. Bob always had a story to tell; and people loved to listen! Bob was loved and will be greatly missed by his family. Bob was laid to rest at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon. A graveside service will be held Monday, October 8, 2018 at 10:30 a.m.
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