Robert "Bob" William Laveck

Come one and all and hear a fine tale

The story of Bobby Laveck I’ll regale

A man known as father, son, brother and more

We all hit the decks when we hear him call “Fore!”

The story begins in a place far up north

Where Mary and Joseph brought a son forth

A stout red-haired babe with smile and wink

On birth certificate, Robert William was inked

The Doukhobors danced and hooted under stars

To welcome this new Canadian of ours

But as the boy grew, his parents got cold

And off to South Florida the whole family rolled

Palm trees and bikinis suited young Bobby well

And “Boy of the Month” was a title soon held

With movie star looks and a gaggle of friends

He threw wicked spirals to speedy tight ends

His talent for football soon took him out west

Under big sky he played, and then gave it a rest

With thumb in the air, Bobby hitchhiked back home

Where he found Joe was waiting with a free haircut and comb

With a clear mind and a heart full of promise

Bobby headed down to the recruitment office

Donning crackerjack blues and a boatswain’s pipe

He crossed the equator, ‘wog to shellback overnight

As riverboat Captain, Bob carried supplies

Wearing VC pajamas and dodging Cambodian Red fly-bys

Bob helmed them all, aircraft carrier to barge

And after his tour, he was most honorably discharged

His buzz cut was traded for bellbottoms and ‘stache

Neil Young on the radio, Nixon starting to crash

Bob heads to the post office for employment from hell

but sees “Lineman Wanted” at old Southern Bell

Bob took to the poles like a monkey climbs trees

He’d perch in his spikes with his hair in the breeze

And at home, newly busy with three little bairns

Sweet Jocko, The Judge, and Blondie most fair

As a father, Bob dreamed of a new kind of life

With mountains and trees – Asheville sounded just right!

He finagled a transfer and to Fox Cove he flew

With babies in tow and a blue tennis shoe

Life on the farm was hard work but great fun

Bob rode wagon trains, roasted pigs and shot guns

His children grew taller in front of his eyes

Then Bob found true love and life was blue skies

Miss Katherine the Cajun was feisty and smart

They married in Celo and then joined St. Mark’s

Bob soon retired (to Strickland’s dismay)

and swung a hammer for Habitat on nice days

Yes Bobby Laveck had a life full and sweet

Fine children, a wife and golf twice a week

It’s hard to believe seventy-seven years have gone by

“And it happened,” said Bob, “in the blink of an eye.”

Thank you to his daughter, Mehgan, for penning this tribute.

Bob is survived by his wife, Katherine; his children, Mehgan and Taylor; his grandson, Tristin; his two great granddaughters Arrabelle and Dixie; and his brother David.

Bob’s family will hold a private celebration of his life in British Columbia, Canada next summer.

To honor Bob’s life, please consider a donation to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, where he served as a volunteer for eighteen years.

Online condolences may be left at: www.penlandfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Penland Family Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Laveck family with arrangements.

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