Robert Trask

TRASK, Robert Wall March 20, 1920 - Dec. 14, 2014 Robert W. Trask, cherished husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, passed away at Doctors Medical Center on Sunday, December 14, 2014 following a stroke. Bob was born in San Francisco, CA on March 20, 1920 to the late Jesse and Alma Trask and brother to the late Helen Garino. He is survived by his beloved wife, Donna R. Trask, his five children and their families: Tom Trask (Maribeth), Lorraine Bacome (Gary), Susan Ross (Bill), Greg Showerman (Kathy), and Nancy Miller (David); eight grandchildren: Julie Varner (Jon), Michael Showerman (Ruth), Kaitlin Showerman, Stephen Shower-man, Elizabeth Ross, Megan Ross, Cody Miller, and Jesse Miller, as well as six great-grandchildren: Tyler Varner, Kyle Varner, Lauren Varner, Dylan Varner, Emily Showerman, and Olivia Showerman. Bob, a First Lieutenant, served with the 83rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Armored Division, as a Commander of a Medium Tank unit during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. He was wounded during a skirmish in the small town of Marcouray, Belgium where he and other wounded soldiers and their medics (later separated) were captured by the Germans. The POWs were assembled in Magdeburg, Germany and from there, Bob, a litter case, was taken to Stalag II-A, located east of the Elbe River and 80 miles north of Berlin, Germany. A British doctor, imprisoned for four years, saved Bob's life on several occasions. Upon being released at the end of the war to the Americans five months later, Bob underwent multiple surgeries to remove shrapnel. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal. Bob graduated from Los Gatos Union High School and received his Bachelor of Arts, and later, his Masters Degree from San Francisco State College. He served as Assistant Superintendent and Director of Curriculum in the Moraga School District and headed their master's program for Special Education which served both gifted and special needs children. He acted as liaison on multiple County and State educational committees. Bob retired from the Moraga School District in 1982. Bob was locally involved in the town of Moraga and was a Past President of Moraga Rotary International, was a Deacon at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, member of AX-POW Forty-Niners Chapter in Elk Grove, CA, American Legion member, and a past member of the California Real Estate Board. He was an avid fly fisherman, a great patriot, and a humble, compassionate man. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Red Cross, Salvation Army or Wounded Warrior Project. A Celebration of his Life will be held at Samaritan Village Retirement Home, Hughson, CA next month.