Bob was the best and so was Cathy. Gary Whitehead

Dear Mrs. Ohlund,
We are very saddened to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family through this difficult phase. 
Sincere Condolences,

Dear Bob,
    I have 3 distinct memories of you growing up that for whatever reason have really stuck with me, even popping in my mind over the years randomly while driving or running, etc., but I've never shared them with anyone before...

1) I was very young.  My family was visiting your old house and you guys had a pool table. The colored balls were sitting in the leather pouches taunting me.  All the adults seemed distracted by other things and I wanted to climb up on the pool table and roll the balls around.  The only person who came over to me was you.  I thought I was in trouble but instead you rolled one of the balls to me and encouraged me to roll it against the side bumper- as hard as I could!  I got so much joy out of this and it was the first time you and me really connected.  I remember the orientation of the room and can still see which direction we were both facing- and the fun-loving smile on your face.  It was the first time I connected that you were my uncle; that you were someone who cared about me.

2) In my teen years, I expressed an interest in video games to you in casual conversation.  And how cool was it to learn that you, too, enjoyed gaming?!  It was through you that I discovered Zork, a DOS-based adventure game... and the first ever 1st-person shooter game, known as Wolfenstein!  I also fondly remember how you offered to upgrade the hard drive, RAM, and processor on my PC computer from time to time so it would run smoother as gaming technology got more advanced! 
    On a side note (and you may not want me to share this, but I'm doing so for posterity's sake), I remember in the computer room how you gave me a deck of cards with pictures of naked women on them (I believe it was some anniversary Playboy edition)  Now, a lot of adults may judge you for this, but I will say this marked the era when you went from being my uncle to being my friend.

3) Incidentally, in the same room with the pool table years later (at least that's how I remember it) we had a discussion about roulette. I don't remember seeing the roulette wheel so I think I had just recently turned 21 and started studying statistics.  You offered me the "secret" to winning roulette.  Of course, by this point I had already discovered that Roulette is known as the 'Devil's Game' because it's impossible to beat and has the worst odds of any casino game.  Nonetheless, I was intrigued...
BOB: "Next time you play, pick these four numbers: 22-18-29-7."
ME: "Why's that?"
BOB: "Because they're all right next to each other on the wheel, so when the ball is bouncing around that area it's more likely to land on a number you picked!"
    I studied you for several seconds, trying to gauge whether or not that smile on your face meant you were kidding- or you were just excited to share this secret with me.  Since most statements from you followed with your signature "deep-but-merry Uncle Bob chortle", I never could tell if you were serious about anything.  In hindsight, I suspect you cared less about the content of what we talked about- and more about simply engaging with another human being. 
     In fact, no matter what you and I discussed over the years... whether it was pool, gaming, women, politics, or teasing me for going by 'Warren' instead of 'Strutzel'... no matter whether we agreed or disagreed on a topic... the only thing you seemed to care about in our interaction was putting a smile on my face. 
   
There's a well-known theory that every person who enters our life is meant to teach us a lesson.  If there's one thing I could only dream of gleaning from you, Uncle Bob, it's your innate desire to brighten every room you enter, and leave everyone smiling.

My heart goes out to you and your family.  Bob you were a great friend and mentor during our five years together at Home Depot. Our friendship extended beyond work and I looked forward to your e-mails and phone calls.   You will be missed.

Dear Cathy,
     I am thinking about you and your great loss.  Time will heal  your sorrow but the sweet memories remain.  Hope you and I can see each other later this summer.  I still have your carousel horse in my bedroom.
     Love and prayers,
Sandy Shelly

Always in my thoughts and prayers, I know Bob is at peace and is looking over us.  I mourn for you alongside your family and smile when I see your face, knowing we will all be together again.

You are in my thoughts, my heart, and my prayers. Wishing you and your family strength and peace.
          with love, Jeanne Halliday

Dear Bob,
I love you so much.  In my whole life, I have never known such an affable, easy going soul.  You could talk to anybody, anywhere, and everyone instantly loved you.  You always had us in stitches with your stories, jokes, and silliness.  Your wonderful childlike excitement about Christmas, birthdays and chocolate were infectious.  And of course, there were always your pearls of wisdom while we were growing up, whether they were asked for or not, they were generally spot on.  Thank you for making my mom so, so happy all these years.  Thank you for being the kind of dad a dad should be.  I will miss you, always.

Rest in peace Bobby,enjoyed our time together working on floors.

Cathy Patty and I were very sorry to hear of this loss. I remember "Bob" "fixing" our floor and doing a great job.
Russ & Patty Miller

I liked Bob even before I met him. Cathi told another friend and me over bridge the reason she married Bob was because he made her happy and made her laugh. Oh, how she loved him.  If Cathi loved him that much, he had to be special.  Bob will be missed and always hold a special place in our hearts.

Bob was the best ,they don't get any better then bobby . I will miss him and his great insight and wisdom .

Dear Cathy,  I am so sorry for your loss, and would like to express my deepest sympathies to your and your family.  You are such a special person. Judy and I will continue to enjoy the memories of the few times we were able to spend when you folks visited  the "ranch" and years later when we visited you and your family in California.  You, Kristi, and Jim are special cousins. Love you, and may God bless you with comfort during your time of grief.  John Bogue, Palmer, Alaska.

Dear Bob, I miss you so much. You were a such a big part of my life, and more importantly you were the angel in my mom's. I am grateful for your years of devotion, kindness, friendship, humor, and strength that you provided in her life and in all of ours. Your patience with me goes above and beyond, you've proven yourself as a loving and abiding father towards me as well as to my family. You were everything to my mother and always will be and that makes everything glorious in my eyes.  I know you are with God, telling him your funniest of jokes, barbecuing your famous ribs and describing to him exactly how it's prepared from start to finish. Thank you for teaching me so much about life; like that the fair is in Pomona, how to drive a stick shift 74 Volkswagen,  to never deny a kind offering if someone is handing it to you, and to find humor in things when all seems to be falling apart.   Your kind eyes, silly jokes, deep voice, great advice to whether it's life's simplest or most difficult moments,will be so deeply missed.  I love you Bob, Your "little girl", Michelle

I was on shock to received the E-mail is sad to loose you Robert because you were a good friend , we share a lot memories  together you even share some of your medicine with me and now reading that you pass away is sad may God receive your soul and my sincere condolences to your family,rest in peace my dear friend.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Please accept my sincere condolences and deepest sympathies.

OBITUARY

Robert Lance Ohlund

May 1, 1948 – May 29, 2013

Pacific View Mortuary & Memorial Park

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