Lawrence Andrew Bober

Larry passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in his home in Canton, Michigan as a ray of morning sunlight shone through the sky light.  He was the son of Ed and Jane Bober, the brother of Norman Bober (Rita) and Richard Bober (Patricia), loving husband to Karen Bober, wonderful father to his children, Michelle Sweikowsky (Jim) and Tim Bober (Marisa) and amazing Dziadzi to his grandchildren, Danny Sweikowsky and Julie Sweikowsky.

Few people have persevered through so much in life while maintaining a genuine positive attitude all the way to the end. Larry should be an inspiration to everyone, as we all have things that we struggle with.  Larry’s mixtures of effort, positive thinking, attention to detail and sense of humor helped him overcome so many of life’s obstacles.  

Larry’s family values were always paramount as he insisted on always doing the right thing in the right way.  He had a long career at Ford Motor Credit company, which both provided for his family but also kept him close to home. This allowed Larry to help his children explore and understand the world, which was often expressed as a coach.  What started off as a way to be a great father turned into a calling as Larry went on to help coach the Canton High School varsity softball team for over two decades.  

Soon after retiring, Larry took on his new role as Dziadzi. He provided “daycare” for his grandchildren, chauffeured them to activities and was one of their biggest cheerleaders. He, along with Baba, would take the kids on adventures and travels, especially to Walt Disney World.

Larry was one of the most responsible people that many ever knew, and he was always on-time if not early.   Larry seems to have never been late to anything.  He was meticulous about taking his array of pills on time. He always followed the rules. Larry’s note taking was meticulous!  And he was always planning a better future on many scales from personal goals to family ones and improving systems.

Some of Larry’s favorite things included Charlie Brown and the Peanuts cartoon in general, Star Trek, all things Disney, Sanders Bumpy Cake, chocolate chip cookies, generic sandwich cookies, chicken strips ,songs from the 1960’s like Inagodadavida and Good Morning Starshine, lifelong fan of Neil Diamond, a reader of an uncountable number of books, and being an excellent boat driver especially for water skiers.

A poem written in the 1920’s, but popularized in the 1960’s guided Larry’s life daily.  The poem’s name is “Desiderata,” which translates to “Things Desired.”

Desiderata - By Max Ehrmann

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater or lesser persons than yourself.
 
Enjoy you achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.  
 
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not stress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle to yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees or the stars; you have a right to be here. 
 
 And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
 
Larry lived out this poem.  In every environment that he inhabited, he made acquaintances which often turned into life-long friends. He will be missed so much, but everyone who knew him is better off for it.

Larry struggled with some vision issues in his later years and the Bober family thinks it’s important to help people in the world struggling with similar issues.  Larry also dedicated his life to the betterment of children’s lives.  We have made donations to the Penrickton Center for Blind Children and the North Star Reach and we invite you to as well.
https://penrickton.org/donations/donate-to-penrickton-center/   https://www.northstarreach.org/support/annual-fund/