Bob Paver.
– It is with sadness that the family of Bob Paver announces his unexpected death in his sleep on the morning of Dec. 10, 2024.
Bob was born March 7, 1934, in Chicago, IL to Joe & Lillian Paver. He spent his early life in that area, eventually locating to Cicero, IL. He played some sports, and had many neighborhood friends and tall tales to tell.
He married Janet Tewell in October 1956. He went into the Army in late 1956, with basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO followed by the rest of the 2 years at Ford Ord, Hunter Liggett, and Camp Roberts, CA. He spoke so often of the rescues of men and equipment “stuck for the day” somewhere on base and he and a crew rescuing them with the “Dragon Wagon.” Here he got a taste of the lovely California weather.
Daughter Debra Carol was born in Paso Robles, CA on April 11, 1958. The family returned to the Chicago area so he could finish his diesel engineering schooling there. Once that was completed, they moved back to California and he began a trucking career hauling the lime to process sugar beets off Lime Mountain Quarry to the train in San Miguel. He then worked for Ted Watkins – Paso Trucking firm as a key driver of low bed and semi-end dump, hauling equipment, asphalt, and gravel to many locations where the Watkins group had construction jobs.
He eventually became the superintendent behind the desk overseeing all operations both at the asphalt and concrete plants south of Paso Robles and all construction jobs within California. In the late 1970s he joined the Dallaire family and they formed A-Jay Trucking in Atascadero. He was instrumental in developing the Rocky Canyon Quarry on the Dallaire property which still exists today.
A second daughter Diane Carol was born to Bob and Janet on Jan. 27, 1965.
He served on the Templeton School Board for a period of 8 years. He was influential in the development of the current High School campus.
After taking in a 3 rd partner at A-Jay Trucking, Bob decided it was time to move along to a new career. He merely said, “I’m going down to Moore’s Nursery to talk with Don Moore to see if that nursery is still for sale.” The nursery was for sale and he and Marilee Ostini Van Tassel partnered to dive into careers they knew nothing about in July 1983. They expanded the nursery services to include landscape contracting & design, lawn spray & weed service, and yard maintenance.
Bob spent 37 years on-site and went home to semi-retire upon the COVID-19 outbreak in March of 2020 at 86 years old. It was about time for him to slow down some. He stayed busy in his woodworking shop, building charcuterie boards and various-sized wooden planters. He loved being in the shop a portion of time every day that he could. Bob had for a long while dealt with heart disease, lung disease, and the effects of breaking his back in Dec. 2018. His mind remained very clear and he often helped with nursery decisions being made by his wife.
Bob is survived by his wife of 41 years, Marilee Paver, his daughter Debbie Paver, and additional children Eric Van Tassel (Melissa) and Heidi Van Tassel Patti (Paul). He was also blessed with 5 grandchildren: Tyler Van Tassel (Valerie), Ross Van Tassel, Dylan & Ellie Sonniksen, and Emily Patti along with great-grandchildren Rowan & Harper Van Tassel. Other family included one sister of Westmont, IL Dorothy Kakuska whom passed in 2019.
There are four nieces, daughters of Dorothy: Kathy, Karen, Carol & Cheryl. Unfortunately, Bob’s daughter Diane passed away from A.L.S. disease in the fall of 2022. Diane is survived by husband, Todd Osborne.
We hope you can join us to celebrate Bob’s life on Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Templeton Legion Hall at 12 p.m. with a luncheon to follow.
The life of a real genuine man and when it’s real, even forever isn’t enough.
The Paso Robles Daily News accepts and publishes local obituaries and death notices free of charge from individuals and local funeral homes. See information and tips here on writing an obituary. Please submit the obituary a few days before services, if possible. To submit an obituary, please email it to skye@accesspublishing.com with “obituary” in the subject line. Please email a photo along with the obituary.