Robert Thayer, Catherine Thayer

Robert L. (Bob) Thayer

Catherine Elizabeth Thayer

ESCONDIDO, Calif, — Robert L. (Bob) Thayer formerly of Escondido and McCook, Neb., died peacefully in his sleep early on Nov. 2, 2017. He was residing in Escondido at the time. 

Bob was born May 4, 1929, in McCook, the oldest of three children to Agnes and Lester Thayer. He spent his early years in Nebraska before his family moved to Toledo, Ohio, where he attended and graduated from high school in 1948. He then decided to move back to McCook to attend college and was a member of the National Guard. In the summer of 1950, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He graduated from MCRD in San Diego and was shipped off to Korea, where he fought in the battle at the Chosin Reservoir. Upon his return to the states after the Marines, he moved back to Toledo, where he married his sweetheart, Catherine Mulkey and they had two of their four children there. 

Bob always liked Southern California after spending some time there while in the Marines. So he packed up and moved to Escondido in 1959. Here he spent the next 17 years and had two more children and worked as a milkman for Golden Arrow Dairy. During this time he was involved in many different activities; coaching youth baseball, golfing, bowling, softball, hunting and occasionally looking for gold. 

Bob wasn’t finished moving though. So, in 1976, he decided to move back to where it all started, McCook. He then spent the better part of 38 years working, hunting, fishing, playing golf regularly, following his beloved Cornhuskers, and occasionally following his passion of prospecting for gold. “The Good Life.”

For the past three years, because of health reasons, he has been in Escondido near his children. 

Bob is survived by his wife: Cathy, three children: Denise (Jay) Semensow, Robert (Jody) Thayer and April (Jackson) Martin, all of Escondido, as well as 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and many relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynn; his sister, Rena Frantz and his younger brother, Richard Thayer.

 Catherine Elizabeth Thayer, age 84, died peacefully on April 12 2019, in Escondido, surrounded by her family.

Catherine was born on March 10 1935, in Toledo, Ohio, to Arthur and Emma Mulkey She had one older brother, Arthur ll. “Cathy” grew up in Toledo where she met and married the love of her life, Robert L. Thayer, on Aug. 5, 1954. Their union bore four children. Denise, Robert, April and Lynn. The couple and their two older children moved to California in 1959, where their two younger children were born.

Catherine was a devoted wife and mother, with a zest for life, and a huge personality. She made friends easily, loved to dance, sing, cook and go to the casino.

In 1976, Catherine joined her husband in his dream to return to his home town of McCook, where she started a small housekeeping service. She lovingly provided her services to many elderly persons in McCook until experiencing a massive stroke in 1990. After a partial recovery, Catherine continued to volunteer weekly at the Helping Hands Thrift Shop in McCook.

In 2014, Catherine returned to California with her husband to be nearer to her family, where she lived until her passing. She was survived by three children: Denise (Jay) Semensow, Robert (Jody) Thayer and April (Jackson) Martin, all of Escondido; as well as 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and many relatives and friends.

Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, brother, Arthur and daughter, Lynn.

 Memorials are suggested to Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Triangle, VA 22172 or the United Methodist Women’s Helping Hands Thrift Store, 202 West 1st Street, McCook, NE 69001.

A memorial service in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Thayer will be 11 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook.

Inurnment with Military Honors will follow in Riverview Cemetery, McCook.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.  Please visit our website at www.carpenterbreland.com to sign the online guestbook for the Thayer family.