Obituary — Robert Balcerzak, Sept. 17, 2022
CLAYTON, CA (Oct. 2, 2022) — Robert “Backhoe Bob” Balcerzak died Sept 17.
Robert was born in Marilla, N.Y., on April 29, 1942, to Walter and Evalyn Balcerzak. He was happy to be 99.6% Polish.
Attending Iroquois Central High School, Robert graduated in June 1961. He was on the varsity wrestling and football teams, making All-Star teams in both.
Robert and his wife, Gloria Bauder, with their first child and another expected, drove cross-county to California. They settled first in Oakland, where he worked for several construction companies. They later moved to Walnut Creek, where their third daughter was born.
In 1970, Robert started his own business, B & B Excavating. He began building his dream home, a log cabin in Clayton surrounded by Mount Diablo State Park, in 1984.
Over almost 40 years, he had horses, cows, goats, pigs, chickens, geese, turkeys and two emus on his property. He always had a Queensland heeler: Pumpkin, Harley, Buddy and Binkie.
Merging families
In July 1989, Robert met Barbara, a dump truck driver, while working on the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. They married in 2005, merging their families.
He semi-retired in 2010 but continued to help friends and neighbors with small projects.
In his spare time, he liked to go trail riding with his dog and have a beer at the Clayton Club.
His parents, Walter and Evalyn Balcerzak, his brother Walter and sister Janet Engel preceded Robert in death.
Robert is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children, Valerie Dunn (Jorge Yanez), Laurie Balcerzak (Steve Eakle), Julie Balcerzak, Vincent Ackerman (Sarah) and Amanda Montelongo (Julian); nine grandchildren, Matt Dunn, Nathan Yanez, Elise De Almeida, Mikayla and Michael Ligon, Rylie and Kody Montelongo, Sabrina and Donovan Ackerman; three great-grandchildren, Shelby, Lily and Maddie Dunn; and his brother, Raymond (Jean).
Robert will be deeply missed.
“Aniołowie czekali u jego boku, aby zabrać go do niebiańskiego ojca.”
There will be a celebration of life 1-4 p.m. Oct. 30 at Old Marsh Creek Springs, 12510 Marsh Creek Road.