Robert Pearce

Robert (Bob) Pearce was born in Niagara Falls, NY on February 5, 1945 and passed away at the age of 74 on February 2, 2020 in Lancaster, CA.   Bob moved to California, with his parents and sister, at the age of 5. He grew up in Temple City and graduated from Temple City High School. In 1963, he married Loretta Tauer. Over the next 56 years, Bob & Loretta increased their family by 2 daughters, 1 son, 6 granddaughters, 3 grandsons and 1 great granddaughter.   Bob & Loretta moved to the Antelope Valley in 1968. At that time, Bob worked for the Los Angeles County Road Department as a heavy equipment operator. He left the county to start his own trucking business in 1980. He loved the freedom of owning his own business and in 1989 added a second sand and gravel transfer truck and renamed the business “Bob Pearce and Son Trucking.”   Throughout his adult life, Bob loved the outdoors and adventure. He was an avid water-skier and shared his love of the sport with his children and several nieces and nephews on trips to Bass lake. He enjoyed camping with his family and looked forward to an annual trip to Pismo Beach where he lived out his daredevil alter ego while thrilling passengers in his dune buggy.   Bob always had a heart for others and loved to make people smile. In his retirement, he began playing Santa. Like everything else he did, he went above and beyond in this role. Since he had a real beard (and belly) he looked like Santa year round. He even carried business cards that said “Santa” to hand out to children who asked him if he was the “Real Santa.” Bob was honored to be the Santa in the Lancaster Christmas Parade for several years and was named the parade grand marshal in 2002. In addition to playing Santa, he worked on the HBO series Deadwood. He was in his element, dressing in old western attire, riding horses and working as a wrangler. Bob and Loretta were members of the Back Country Horsemen. They had mules that they took to Mule Days in Bishop every year. Bob competed in several events and won “World Champion Fun Mule” many years in a row.   His world revolved around his family and he was blessed to have all 20 together for Christmas this past year.   Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Robert & Lucille Pearce. He is survived by his wife, Loretta and children, Leah (Ken), Sherrie (Paul), Jared (Johanna), grandchildren, Stephanie, Alexandra, Hannah (Nate), Katherine, Anthony (Cynthia), Daniel, McKenzie, Cheyenne, Dakota, great-granddaughter, Ellie, and his sister, Michele Baker and several nieces and nephews.   The Celebration of Life has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus and the uncertainties that continue to progress. A Facebook page has been created - Bob Pearce’s “Virtual” Celebration of Life which has a slideshow and please post a memory.