It's not Goodbye... It's see you later

 

On Sunday, July 30th mom received a call from Gege just before mom was heading out for one of her Young Women's meetings. Gege rarely calls, she usually corresponds through text messages. Mom was surprised to see her number and answered. Gege was obviously very emotional and mom took the call in her room. Gege explained that Rob went to one of the WFC fights the night before and was involved in a horrific accident with 2 other men after the fight was over and all 3 lost their lives. It was a complete shock. She asked that mom tell Noelle and Grandma and Grandpa Pikus since they deserved to be told in person. Then she asked for mom to come up to be with her after she gave the horrible news to the others. Since Janson and the kids as well as Grandma and Grandpa were in church at the time, mom had Dad run into the church and ask them to meet us at their home. Mom was waiting in the driveway when they arrived and Noelle who had recently had knee surgery came out of her house across the street since Janson called her on their way home to let her know there was most likely some bad news. When they arrived, mom had the horrible task to let them know of Rob's passing. It was so emotional and not anything you can prepare for. Dad then drove mom up to Gege's house to spend some time with her. She asked that Dad go up to the Delta Center parking lot to pick up Rob's truck that was left there over night since the accident occurred in one of the other guys cars. Once mom arrived Gege gave the grim details of the events that unfolded that night and the other 2 men who lost their live leaving behind a total of 17 kids (Joe Vashaw and Joe Torman)

The fight was to end around 10:30. When Gege looked at Rob's location on GPS at 11:08 she saw that he was at a nearby gas station near Beck Street. She then fell asleep knowing he would be home soon. When she awoke at 2:00am and he still wasn't home she looked at his location once again and it was still at the same gas station so she started to text and call without any answer. She wondered why he would turn his location setting off. After trying for over an hour to reach him, one of the guys, Woolsey, that was at the fight with Rob called Gege at 3am asking if Rob was with her. She said no and had been trying to get in touch with him. She told him where his last location was. He then informed her that 3 guys (over 20 friends rented a suite at the fight) were involved in a fatal car accident and were trying to figure out who it might have been since the bodies were so badly burned that they couldn't identify them. The accident happened near the gas station where Rob's last location was posted. Apparently, it was a new Tesla Plaid that was involved and from a few of the retained belongings it looked like Rob was the driver. Gege mentioned that the car burned for over 2 hours.

Gege drove up to the accident site as they were taking the bodies away from the scene. She had her nephew and family attorney, Swen with her which we were grateful she wasn't alone. There were no other cars involved and it was weird that we didn't see any break marks. Mom went up to the accident site with the girls for some sort of closure. We were so grateful to have our Bear Lake reunion with Rob and it was so amazing that he voiced how and where he wanted to be buried after the trip. He went home from Bear Lake and he mentioned to Gege that they had never discussed this and to make a plan. He wanted to be buried on their property in Park City in a mausoleum. It would be less than a week later that he would pass away. It will be super difficult for not only us but his kids and Gege to continue life without him. He was always up for an adventure. He will be greatly missed. Mom mentioned at the end of the trip when she walked out of the cabin when everyone was saying goodbye, she didn't see Rob and his family. They left just a few minutes earlier and mom missed giving him and the kids a hug. Grandma said that was just Rob, he hated hugs and he hated goodbyes. So "it's not goodbye, it's see you later". Love you Rob. Until we meet again!