Robert Charles Laber

Robert Charles Laber was born December 17, 1926 to George S. & Florentina Laber in New Rockford, ND, and went to be with his Lord & Savior on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at his home under the care of Hospice after a long fight with multiple bone marrow myeloma (cancer). Robert "Bob" was raised on a farm at New Rockford, ND, the oldest of four children. He learned to ride horseback and drive tractor at the tender age of seven (7). He started farming during his teens with his Dad, and raising beef cattle. In February 1952 he met the love of his life, Ruth A. Hanson, & they were married October 30, 1952 at St. John's Catholic Church in New Rockford, ND. Bob & Ruth rented a farm home across the highway from Bob's parents & continued farming with his Dad, renting another quarter of land. He also started a small dairy, building his own milk parlor, contracting for farm pickup and DHIA, going to Wisconsin to purchase his milking herd. After two severe crop losses, & livestock loss, Bob held an auction in August 1959 of all but personal belongings and moved to San Fernando Valley on Labor Day 1959 at Ruth's parents with four children ages 6, 4, 2, and 6 months. Bob immediately went to work driving truck hauling building materials for Canoga Building Supply throughout LosAngeles & Ventura County, and purchased their first home in Mission Hills. During this time his youngest daughter was born. He then was hired by Western Milk Transport in Pacoima & in January 1963 his youngest son was born. In September 1963 Bob & family, along with eight other families, were moved to Tulare, CA by Western Milk Transport. In May of 1964 they sold their home in Granada Hills and purchased their home in Tulare where they raised their family, & Ruth continues to reside. Bob & Ruth became owners of the Greyhound Bus Depot & contracted for the agency. For a time they owned & operated the Tulare Jitney service. When Western Milk Transport closed Robert got a job driving for American Transfer out of Fresno, & several years later drove for Knudsen on farm pickup retiring in 1981. Robert was a member of the Teamsters Union & the Tulare Elks Lodge. His hobbies were restoring antique automobiles, auto mechanics, repairing whatever broke around the house; remodeling, building, & finishing kitchen cabinets. His passion was to figure out how things worked and he enjoyed all things mechanical. He loved music, especially semi-classical & good dance music, & was a great dancer. In his younger years he & Ruth were members of a square dancing group & later years they became avid RVers & members of an RV group. They traveled widely throughout the United States and Canada, & spent one entire summer as camp hosts at Crawford State Park in northeast Washington State. He attended First Lutheran Church of Tulare. Robert Laber is survived by his loving & devoted wife, Ruth, of 56 ½ years; his children, Guy Edward Laber (Marie), Tulare; Jayne Rachelle Finkbohner (Robert), Carmichael, CA; James Alfred Laber (Ruby), Visalia, CA; Robin C. Laber (Jerry), Visalia, CA; Douglas J Laber (Anna), Visalia, CA; & daughter-in-law MaryAnn Laber, Tulare, CA; 12 grandchildren: Justin, Ryan, & Ahren Laber, Tulare, CA; Alexis Anne Giesbrecht (Kenneth), Moore, OK; Christopher Carpenter SPC (Jamie), Germany; Terynn Friesen (Jeff), Thousand Oaks, CA; Paige Quadro (Mark), Citrus Heights, CA; Megan & Jamie Laber, Visalia, CA; Natasha, Robert, & Shelby Laber, Visalia, CA; Brother: George Wm. Laber (Dianne), New Rockford, ND; Sisters Marjorie Kuehn (Lyle, deceased), Mesa, AZ & Alice Kinsey (Robert), Arcadia, CA; several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by both parents, one niece, and his son, Steven Robert Laber (53 yrs) 8-12-08. He will be forever missed by his family. Memorial Service & Celebration of Life will be Saturday, August 1st, 2009, 2:00 PM at Trinity United Reformed Church, 6400 W. Walnut Ave.,Visalia, CA with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall provided by the Worship & Fellowship Committee of First Lutheran Church of Tulare.