Robert Daniel “Bob” Taylor, II

Robert Daniel “Bob” Taylor, II

February 28, 1942 – February 1, 2021

Robert Daniel Taylor II, “Bob”, loving Husband, Dad, Grandfather “Poopa”, Brother, Uncle, and Friend of many, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on the morning of February 1, 2021.

Bob was born in Omaha, NE and raised on a small farm in La Platte, NE. He graduated from Ralston High School in the Class of 1960. Bob often joked that he made it through High School on a Football Scholarship. Bob’s High School Principal once sat him down and told him “Bob, you are a natural born leader… you just don’t always lead in the right direction.” Upon graduation, Bob would focus his energy, drive, and leadership into a field in which he excelled and built a fabulous career.

Bob chose the Plumbing Trade as his career and gave that industry his lifelong dedication. Out of high school, he entered a 5-year plumbing apprenticeship with Plumbers Local No. 16 which concluded with winning the Local No. 16 Apprenticeship contest and becoming a Journeyman Plumber. He was quickly promoted to Job Superintendent and took on his first large scale construction project, overseeing the installation of plumbing in the “New Ralston High School”.

Bob was very active in Plumbers Local No. 16, serving as an instructor for the Journeyman and Apprentice Training Programs along with numerous committees.  He became a graduate of a 5-year Plumber Instructor Training Program held at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, sponsored by the United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe-fitting Industry. He became a licensed Master Plumber in April 1974 and took the entrepreneurial leap of faith establishing Taylor Plumbing, Inc. that same month. He became a member of Mechanical Contractors Association of Omaha in 1975 where he served on the Board of Directors for 20-plus years, serving on numerous committees and holding positions of Secretary-Treasurer and President. In 1982 he moved to the National level serving on several committees for the Mechanical Contractors Association of America where he was appointed to the National Board of Directors.  Later he was the recipient of the coveted Mechanical Contractors Association of America’s Distinguished Service Award.

Bob also served as Chairman of the City of Omaha Plumbing Board and was appointed by the Mayor of Omaha to serve on numerous plumbing code related committees. He assisted the City of LaVista with establishing the adoption of their Municipal Plumbing Code. And he served on a committee formed to write Master and Journeyman License examinations for the City of Council Bluffs. He served as an officer for the American Society of Sanitary Engineering and was Chairman of the National Plumbing Bureau. Bob was a member of the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce, Trustee of the Ralston Community Schools Foundation, President of Wiebe-Ralston Foundation, Member of the Ralston Bank/Norwest Bank Advisory Board, and President of the Ralston City Council. Some of you may recall his jingle from the radio, “I’m Bob Taylor, Taylor Plumbing, and I certainly love what I do!” As you can see, it wasn’t just a jingle, it was the truth.

After retiring from Taylor Plumbing, Bob stayed involved in the business world by sitting on various committees and councils He also enjoyed mentoring young entrepreneurs and sharing his knowledge for both personal and professional success.

Bob married his High School sweetheart and love of his life, Pam (Newman) Taylor in 1961. They had three wonderful children, Dan Taylor, Barry Taylor, and Shelly Taylor Richardson, whom they raised in Ralston and at their lake house at Woodcliff Lakes.

Bob was a person who enjoyed life, and life enjoyed him. He would light up any room with his quick wit and an irresistible magnetic personality that people would naturally gravitate towards. Away from work and career, he cherished his time with his family. Bob was also very active in the Ralston community. He coached many little league sports teams and Taylor Plumbing sponsored numerous teams as well. Bob enjoyed hanging out with his friend group “The Road Apples,” hunting, fishing, cooking, and air-boating on the Platte River. He would eventually become the Grandfather to 10 grandchildren on whom he has left an indelible fingerprint. They called him “Poopa.” He fully immersed himself into this role and would never miss a game, recital, or graduation. His grandchildren would gather around him for his world class story telling skills at the Lake House at Woodcliff, which became his sanctuary where he could enjoy his family and the outdoors.

Having grown up in the late ‘50s, Bob naturally had an affinity for cars. He would race cars in his youth, and later in life he would build his dream hot rod which was an award winning 1931 Ford Tudor. Bob was a member of the Dunbar Street Cruisers in Fremont, NE where he proudly served as their President and Sergeant of Arms. Bob was also recently self-inducted into the Dunbar Street Cruisers Hall of Fame which includes duty free eternal membership.

Bob and Pam spent winters in Scottsdale at their home in the high desert where he would enjoy family, car shows for his hot rod, and warm weather.

Survived by his wife of 59 years, Pam; sons, Dan and Barry; and daughter, Shelly; daughters-in-law, Amy (Dan) and Lorri (Barry); son-in-law, Todd (Shelly); 10 grandchildren: Robert Daniel III “Tripp”, Ketch, and Crew (Dan), Rider, Brawly, Cooper, and Piper (Barry), and Eden, Ava, and Bella (Shelly); brother, Chuck Taylor; sister, Judy Taylor; and several nieces, nephews and loving friends.

We celebrate his life, his humor, his wisdom, his love, his accomplishments; and we will treasure the gift of the many memories he has created for his family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for a later date and announced.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association.