Memories of Bob

I first met Bob over forty years ago when I was around ten.  A friend of the family brought me over to the Olson Farm, because he said there was someone I needed to meet.  My first impression of Bob was that he was very friendly, but boy he sure talked slow.  I grew to appreciate Bob's South Dakota drawl and I spent many hours having quality chats with him over the years.
Bob was a big part of my life and since I lived near-by I was over at the Olson Farm on a regular basis.  I had left my only grandfather behind in New York when my family moved to California.  Bob took me under his wing and sort of adopted me.  Bob became my friend as well and he was someone I could look up to.  He taught me everything he knew about horses and he even taught me a trade.  I started painting houses with him when I was around thirteen and I think of him every time I pick up a paint brush.  
Bob was also a good moral compass for me to follow and he made sure I didn't get into too much trouble as a teenager.  While growing up, I often watched my friends get into trouble with their parents, or in trouble with the law.  I never really had those problems growing up and I realize now that Bob was the reason why.  He kept me out of trouble by keeping me busy.  To be honest, I was just too tired to get into any trouble as a kid, because I was always trying to keep up with Bob.  I remember getting up early so that I could be over at his house around 7:30.  He would be finishing up breakfast with Dorothy and off we'd go to work.  I'd do my best to keep up with him all day and when the end of the day came around I was exhausted.  If I wasn't painting houses with Bob, he always had some project we could work on around his house.
As I grew older and I went off to college, I managed to pay for most of my expenses because of Bob.  Even though he was retired at the time, he would make sure to have some jobs for me between semesters.  I managed to get my bachelor's degree without owing a penny.
I will always think of Bob as a person to look up to and I'm a better person because he was a part of my life.  

Thank-you Cheryl for sharing your father with me!!

Leif Syrdahl

Memorial Service

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, Mortuary & Crematory

Robert Olson

immediate need

Death has occurred or is near

plan ahead

Pre-plan a funeral or cremation

Plan a Funeral or Cremation Default Desktop

Find Obituaries and Services

Send Flowers

sympathy and etiquette

grief library

celebrations of life

What to Say When Someone Dies

Show Your Support

Sympathy and Grief

obituary

services

memories

Obit Detail

In the care of

share to facebook

share by email

share link

Share Obituary

ideas and resources

Sympathy and Grief Mobile

OBITUARY

Robert LeRoy Olson

April 10, 1922 – February 4, 2016

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, Mortuary & Crematory

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services