Robert D. "Bob" Playman

Robert “Bob “was returned to our heavenly father on May 13, 2025. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Bob was born on January 27, 1938, one of seven children, born to Donald and Eunice Playman in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. As a youth, he loved to play in the snow and tease his brothers and sisters and surrounded them with love and laughter. He was always ambitious and industrious with a very intelligent and creative mind.

At the age of 14, he and his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. His father was a hard-working man and his mother was a devoted homemaker and incredible baker and seamstress. She passed on to Bob a love of golf and travel. He and his brother Joe would later enjoy golf outings in Phoenix, as well as trips up to Prescott to escape the heat and golf. Bob and Joe would also enjoy waterskiing during high school, spending many days on the lakes surrounding Phoenix.

Bob and his brothers worked during high school at Stan Felix‘s “Madison pay n take it” to earn some extra “fun” money.

In his later years of high school, he met his future wife, Mary Jo while he attended St. Mary’s Catholic School. After graduation, he joined the Navy and later married Mary Jo in Pensacola, Florida. They were blessed to have two daughters Lisa and Elizabeth. He and Mary Jo parted ways, as many do, and he later married Marsha with whom he had his son Donald. They later parted ways as well, and he became busy with his 30-year career as a hydraulic and pneumatic engineer. He owned his own business named RD Playman company- “fluid power specialists”. One of his biggest projects was the engineering of Big Surf, the famous waterpark in Tempe, Arizona. He traveled often around the southwest designing water and air pressure projects for various other entities and had a successful career teaching as well as selling hydraulic systems.

He went on to meet Maxine, who later became his wife. They enjoyed 48 wonderful years together, traveling and seeing the world during his middle years. From the first hello, Bob and Maxine were inseparable. Maxine also assisted Bob with his hydraulics and pneumatics classes. She helped him procure students in Phoenix, Tucson, and even Gallup, New Mexico.

He stayed close to his daughters taking them horseback riding, ice-skating and on trips to San Diego in the summers. Once he became a grandfather, he was blessed to be able to nurture and be close to his seven grandchildren.

After many years of success, he was able to sell his business and retire, which would leave him more free time to enjoy his family, friends, siblings, and travel. He was able to help his oldest daughter Lisa acquire and manage a successful hair salon called “Purple Lotus” in Ramona, California, where she enjoyed many years as a hairstylist. Later, he was able to help his daughter Elizabeth build and create a successful medical practice in San Diego, where she practices as an Internal Medicine physician, who is still in practice today.

Robert came from a very entrepreneurial family which he passed on his children and grandchildren. He taught his family the value of hard work, commitment, and ongoing connection with his frequent visits and connections. He very much enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, taking them fishing, to the beach and ice-skating. He was also very close to his siblings, frequently taking trips to visit them and their children.

We will miss hearing him humbling to 50s music, as well as his little sayings of “no kiddin” or “Oh Geez” and his multiple silly sneezes. He had a sunny, fun loving, joyous, boisterous spirit and he left the world better than he found it.

We love and miss you already grampa Bob and are so thankful that you’re now home in heaven and reunited with your many friends, loved ones and family. Thank you for giving us all the gifts of faith, love and kindness, as well as your many words of wisdom. We are all so very grateful for your wonderful patriarchy and example as our family leader.

Robert is survived by his sister, Ruth and brothers Joe and John, his daughters Lisa and Elizabeth, his grandchildren, Brittney, Blaise, Brea, Bron, Ben, Gabe and Sofia and his wife Maxine.

May God bless your incredible loving soul “Gramps”

Much love to you always and forever everywhere.

- Your loving family.