Robert C. Pynenburg, of Merrimack and formerly of Mokelumne Hill, CA died on Friday, October 9, 2015 at Concord Hospital in Concord, NH. At the age of 71, he passed away peacefully after a period of declining health surrounded by members of his loving family.

Bob was born on January 28, 1944 in Nashua, NH and was the son of the late Joseph and Helen (Manning) Pynenburg. After spending much of his adult life in the state of California, a place he dearly loved, he returned home recently to his family in Merrimack.

As a young man, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he worked as an instructor at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama specializing in ballistic missile repair and maintenance and at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico where he ensured missile production quality. After his discharge, he pursued higher education, earning an electrical engineering degree from Wentworth Institute in Boston, MA.

After graduation Bob went to work for Sanders Associates where he worked for many years as a civilian contractor. From there, he went on to work for several medical device companies including Corning and Valtronics and he even played a small part in assisting with the development of Dr. Robert Jarvik’s first artificial heart. Upon retirement Bob moved in a different direction, becoming a substitute teacher for Amador and Calaveras Counties in California. There he found joy in teaching special needs children and a deep satisfaction in exercising his special gift of working with troubled young adults.

Bob was a member of The Academy of Model Aeronautics and the Gold Country Fliers, a remote control model airplane club. One of his favorite pastimes was challenging other members of the club to air races – something that eventually earned him the dubious title "Killer Bob" in honor of the many destroyed planes he left in his wake. And when he wasn’t flying or teaching, he spent many peace filled days with old friends at Yosemite National Park which was, perhaps, his favorite place of all.

For all his accomplishments and for all the memories that those of us left behind will cherish, the most precious will be his remarkable quick wit and twinkling blue eyes. Bob’s ability to light up a room with laughter was magical, and those of us who loved him will hold onto that memory forever.

Along with his parents, Robert was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Pynenburg. He is survived by his two sisters Virginia Penrod of Merrimack, and Paula Schofield of Manchester; a sister-in-law Dorothy Pynenburg of Merrimack; many special nieces and nephews; and last but not least, Blackie, his rescued cat.

There will be no calling hours. A private service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your local SPCA, a charity of your choice or the Calaveras Grown Recovery Program:www.calaveras
grown.org, info@calaveras
grown.org. For more information or to sign an online guest register, please go to rivetfuneralhome.com.