Gary Bobo Obituary

January 20, 1940 - June 22, 2023 Rancho Murieta, CA - Gary Bobo's vibrant personality lit up a room. Always friendly and outgoing, he engaged with everyone he met and brought a smile to friends and strangers alike. You couldn't be in Gary's presence and not feel joy and Jesus trickling out. In fact, he was known to grab a hot dog at the Costco Food Court just to tell people about his Savior.

A native of Sacramento, Gary was born at Sutter Memorial Hospital to Claude and Jane Bobo, followed by his sister Karen. His family called Sacramento home. What Gary lacked on the sports field, he made up for by driving the coolest cars. A true car enthusiast, Gary owned thirty-eight different cars over the years. At the time of his passing, he owned several classic hot rods, including a woody station wagon and '48 Buick Roadmaster he called Black Magic.

Gary graduated from Sacramento High School in 1957. While in high school he went to Sierra Bible Camp where he met his future bride, a young 15-year-old girl from Grants Pass, Oregon named Joy Jones. She made quite an impression and they kept in contact until after she graduated. He covered many miles driving north to see his Oregonian love.

At a young age Gary went to work for the family sheet metal business that was established in 1952, prior to the founding of Bobo Construction, Inc. where he spent the rest of his career.

In 1960, Gary and Joy were married and established their home on Farm Lane in Sacramento. They soon started their family beginning with daughter Wendy, then Tammy and son, Chris. After a few years in the area, Gary and Joy built their first custom home in Valley High Country Club, where the kids spent their youth. After completing their chores, the family spent many hours at the club pool, where the kids shared their parents' membership number with their friends for treats at the snack bar. That was until Gary-who scrutinized any receipt with a fine-tooth comb-put a stop to all the neighborhood kids charging their food to Bobo Family #52.

Gary and Joy loved Sundays with their young family. They would start with church and end with a boisterous Sunday drive in the family station wagon. In his attempt to make the station wagon cool, and being the car guy he was, Gary added mag wheels. Much to his chagrin, that made the car too wide to take through the Gem Autowash on Freeport Boulevard!

Throughout their life the Bobos were hardworking entrepreneurs. They worked on side projects on nights and weekends, flipping houses (long before that was "a thing"). They were a true team. Joy is credited with helping Gary with many ventures over the years which includes Gary winning Best Dressed Man of Sacramento in the seventies, an award that gave them both a chuckle.

In 1980, Gary and Joy built a stunning home on ten acres on Pleasant Grove School Road in Elk Grove, California. Then they got involved in a Christian youth organization called Young Life. In the early eighties it was not uncommon for a hundred kids to be in their living room as they shared their love of Jesus. It was also not uncommon for them to be seen on-campus ministering to the high schoolers or driving youth groups to camp. Gary supported Young Life throughout his years. He also began ministering to the homeless both here in the Sacramento area with Rancho Murieta Community Church as well as down in Indio, California with Pastor Martinez. He would personally make a bunch of PB & J sandwiches and go hand them out and, in his words, "go love on people."

Next to Jesus, Gary passionately loved his family. It was a common sight to see "Papa" in a hot rod with the top down, picking up his grandkids (and in later years great-grandkids) blasting music and going for ice cream. He truly was the dad and grandfather of any child's dreams. Gary being the dog lover he was, spoiled his many dogs over the years as much or more than the grandkids.

Gary and Joy enjoyed many travel adventures over the years, but none meant more than the annual trips they took with their whole family. They blessed their growing family-three kids, eight grandkids, in-laws and six great grandkids-with trips around the globe. (All documented on family YouTube dance videos.)

Gary was loved by so many, his friends both here and in the desert, his car buddies, his F-Bombers bible study, and our large extended family. Gary is survived by his wife Joy, daughter Wendy (Joe) Mazzoni, daughter Tammy (John) O'Brien, son Chris (Tina) Bobo, grandchildren Carly (Travis) Nicholas, Bailey (Cameron) Iwasa, Austin (Sarah) Bobo, Scarlett (Luke) Wickman, Giovanni Mazzoni, Gabriela Mazzoni, Killian O'Brien, Dominic Mazzoni. Gary also had six great-grandchildren and one on the way.

Over 83 years in Sacramento resulted in hundreds of friends and acquaintances, all of whom will miss the radiant smile that lit Gary's face until his dying day. Happily, he knew Jesus in the end, so his story isn't over, but the world lost a good man when Gary Bobo took his place in heaven on June 22, 2023.

An outdoor lawn Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Rancho Murieta Country Club 7700 Alameda Drive, Rancho Murieta, with a reception to follow. Casual attire.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Elk Grove Young Life:

https://giving.younglife.org/s/?GiftType=Area&MissionUnitId=a2s410000002wZYAAY&ClassCodeId=a2j41000000Nj93AAC&MissionUnitName=Elk%20Grove&Frequency=One-Time&ClassCodeName=Operating or can be mailed to Elk Grove Young Life, 9460 Stone Springs Elk Grove, CA 95624.