"On each side of the river stood the tree of life." Revelations 22:2
Robert “Bob” Pangburn
July 19, 1931 – Dec. 8, 2012
Beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, author and pastor, Robert "Bob" Pangburn, 81, of Peoria, AZ passed away Dec. 8, 2012 after a nearly two-year battle with cancer. Born July 19, 1931, Bob was raised in the oil and cattle country of Montana by his parents Harold and Louise Pangburn. He worked on oilrigs, part time as a rodeo clown and as an aide in a mental health institution before going off to Bible College at Northwestern University in Minneapolis, MN. It was during this time he married his first wife and his daughter Nancy was born. Upon graduation, he accepted a position as a pastor of a new church that moved his family to Powell, WY where his son Martin was born. Bob had a passion for serving people, so when he ventured into the corporate world, he began as a case/social worker for the mentally disabled. This work led him to Lansing, Michigan and later Mesa, Arizona where he became the Executive Director for the Arizona Association for Retarded Citizens. It was here that he met and married his wife Mary Beth. In all, Bob spent more than 45 years serving the needs of others before retiring as CEO of Interfaith Services – an organization dedicated to serving older adults and helping maintain their independence. Though he worked serving others, ministering was still an important part of his life. He and Mary Beth served as the directors of SonBeams, a singles ministry at Sweetwater Church of the Valley for more than 10 years. Out of his early morning time seeking the Lord, he was inspired to write two daily devotional books: No Better Place and Assurance of His Grace. Both books have been read around the world. In retirement, he returned to the pulpit to be the associate pastor at Believers’ Family Fellowship for eight years, as well as the volunteer pastor of Lake Pleasant Harbor RV Resort community. He was a compassionate and energetic person. He deeply loved to minister to people and he loved to share the word of God. He is survived by loving wife Mary Beth; daughter Nancy (Dan) Kaplan of Phoenix; son Martin (Peggy) of Dewey, AZ; grandchildren Jason of Peoria, Joshua (Amy) of Phoenix, Joe (Kadie) of Huntsville, AL, Jesse (Mickey) of Tempe, and Joel (Jessica) Kaplan of Phoenix; great-grandchildren, Aaron Kaplan and Benjamin Kaplan; sister, Joan (Raymond) Kindt of Worland, WY; brother, Gary (Linda) of Greybull, WY; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial celebration will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Lake Pleasant, in the Pleasant Harbor RV Resort Clubhouse, 8708 W Harbor Blvd, Peoria, AZ 85383. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pastor Bob Pangburn Memorial Fund at any U.S. Bank (see www.usbank.com for the nearest location), or, Northwestern College - 3003 Snelling Avenue North St. Paul, MN.
