With family members by his side, Robert Rudy Von Bargen died peacefully in his home in Willows on Monday, December 30, 2024, just two days after his 79th birthday. He lived in this home with his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Jones and her husband, Merle, since the death of his wife, Mary, who died in October of 2020.
The youngest of seven children, he was born in Chico to Martin Von Bargen and Edna (Kaiser) Van Bargen.
He grew up on Stony Creek just south of Hamilton City, and attended Hamilton City schools until graduating in 1963 from Hamilton Union High School, where he played football. In December of 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served overseas in Germany during the time of the Vietnam War.
After his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to California and started a family. His career life began with working in Chico, building Pontoon Boats at Merritt’s.
Robert worked for Dewitt’s dairy in Maxwell as a supervisor for a number of years as well as Kraemer & Company in Orland. In the late 1990s, he joined a company called Hoist and Crane Service Group out of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Hoist and Crane Service Group has office locations around the United States and Robert worked in multiple states over a period of 16 years with this company.
In 2010, he retired and spent a few years in North Carolina before returning to California in 2017. His hobbies were fishing, hunting, and camping in Fort Bragg and Clearlake.
He enjoyed spending time with his family.
He is survived by his sister, Charlene Hefty of Kathleen, Georgia; and children Randy Von Bargen and wife, Lauri, of Gridley, Gary Von Bargen and Dana of Lincolnton, North Carolina, Lisa Jones and husband, Merle, of Willows; ten grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary (Satterfield) Von Bargen; parents Martin Von Bargen and Edna (Kaiser) Von Bargen of Hamilton City; brother Martin Von Bargen of Esparto; and sisters Caroline Blunkall of Chico, Joann Daniel of Capay, Elsie Von Bargen of Oroville, and Catherine Alberico of Capay.
Services are being planned for the spring.
The Glenn County Observer 