[PRpond]
Robert Elden Kershaw, Rescue, CA.
February 2, 1937 - June 5, 2017
Robert Elden Kershaw, and/or "Bob", "Dad", "Popa Bob", "Uncle Bob", passed away on June 5, 2017 at the Orangevale home of his daughter, Pamela Henderson where he lived the last 1 1/2 years, at the age of 80 years old.
Bob was born in Denver, Colorado on February 2, 1937, the second son of Robert Earl Kershaw and Louise (Sengenberger) Kershaw. Bob graduated from Sacramento's McClatchy High School in 1955 where he was student body president and on the football team. Bob served in the California National Guard as a Sargeant Armor Intel Specialist until 1960. Bob graduated from Sacramento State University in 1965, receiving his degree in Civil Engineering.
Bob was married to Suzanne Hummel from 1956 to 1979. They had three children together Pamela, Randy and Ilisa. Together, the five of them traveled the northern reaches of California where Bob was engineering bridges for Cal Trans along Interstate 5 and beyond. As a result, the family resided in South Sacramento, Yuba City, Redding, Trinity Center and Fair Oaks.
Bob spent 30 years with Cal Trans including his time as a draftsman. He was instrumental in the planning, design and construction support for Sacramento Light Rail, serving as Facilities Design Manager. Bob retired from public service in 1987, then worked in the private sector for Boyle Engineering, where he was Principal Engineer for Transportation Services, and later for Wong Engineering out of San Francisco. Bob continued to serve as an Senior Structural Engineer and Consultant until 2015 for Sacramento's Regional Transit.
During his career, Bob mentored many new engineers, taking them under his wing to teach them the ropes.
Bob and Suzanne separated in 1979 and subsequently divorced. Bob met Carol Sacre in the years that followed and together they experienced great times and built lasting memories while raising Carole's daughter Jenny (Sacre) Niello and entertaining family and friends in their Sacramento home on 43rd Street. (Fab 40's)
Bob loved wine and winemaking, but mostly wine. He started making wine in the early 1970's and graduated to co-founding Crystal Basin Cellers (CBC) in Camino, CA in 2000 with Michael Owen and his wife Melissa (Kershaw) Owen, Bob's niece. Bob developed deep and lasting friendships and admiration at CBC where he was fondly referred to as "Uncle Bob" by patrons following Mike and Melissa's lead.
Bob was a socialite. He loved his friends from Cal Trans, Light Rail, and Sons in Retirement ("SIRS"). He volunteered at the Sacramento Jazz Festival for the first several years after its initiation, and love rubbing elbows with all of its revelers.
Bob is survived by: his daughter Pamela Henderson (John Henderson) and their 3 children, Austin Henderson, Janelle Krattiger (Robert Krattiger), and Leanna Henderson; his son Randy Kershaw (Kim Kershaw) and his sons Greg Kershaw and Deron Kershaw and their daughter Jenna Kershaw; his daughter Ilisa Gallant (Gordon Gallant) and their son's Hunter Gallant and Harrison Gallant; his step- daughter who is carrying on Bob's legacy of civil engineering with RT, Jenny (Sacre) Niello (Matt Niello) and their 2 children Ryan and Caroline; his niece Melissa Owen (Michael Owen) and their daughters Sophia and Madeline all whom he loved dearly.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., June 26, 2017, at Foothill United Methodist Church in Rescue, CA.
"Bob was a mentor to many young engineers, including me in the 1990's and even in the last couple of years when he was helping us with the South Line project. His love of work showed. Best of all his engineering legacy lives on in Jenny!!"
~ Diane Nakano,
Roseville, California
Religious Service Information
Foothills United Methodist
3301 Green Valley Rd
Rescue, CA 95672
