MARYSVILLE — When an employee of Ron Nobach’s trucking company would quit, they’d almost always come back to work for Nobach at some point, said his nephew, Trevor Harrison.
On Friday, several current and former employees went to work for Nobach one last time: They drove their big rigs past the church after his memorial service, bellowing their horns in tribute.
Nobach, 64, who ran Ron Nobach Trucking Inc. in Marysville, died last Saturday from kidney cancer.
More than 250 people attended the standing-room-only service for Nobach at Cascade Christian Reformed Church in north Marysville. Most of them waited outside in the rain after the service for the 12-truck convoy of semis and huge dump trucks to roll by.
The truckers were escorted by the State Patrol, who had temporarily closed 51st Avenue NE for the event. The convoy was led by Nobach’s personal rig, which he would drive to his condo in Palm Springs.
Nobach, who maintained his home in Lake Goodwin, was well known around the region, Harrison said.
“All the trucking companies in the area have had something to do with Nobach Trucking at some point in time,” he said.
Those who knew Nobach painted a picture of a loyal and jovial man.
“He was always a happy-go-lucky guy, always great spirit,” said Mike Downey, 31, of Stanwood, who drives a truck for Springbrook Nursery of Marysville. The two companies would sometimes do topsoil hauling jobs for each other, he said.
“If you were ever down, he’d be the guy to pick you up,” Downey said.
One of those who left Nobach’s company and returned is Ron Lawson, 63, of Marysville. He drove long-haul routes up and down the West Coast for Nobach before, and now drives a dump truck for the company.
“He was always a fair man,” Lawson said. “I’ve never seen him angry.”
Nobach, a 1962 graduate of Everett High School, started his business with his father, the late Herman “Pappy” Nobach, in 1970.
“He started with one truck,” Harrison said.
Now the business has more than 25 trucks and a comparable number of employees. They haul topsoil, freight and produce up and down the West Coast, Harrison said.
Nobach was never afraid to hire people without experience, he said.
“He’d help them get a CDL (commercial driver’s license), throw ‘em in a truck and teach ‘em how to drive,” said Harrison, who also works for the company.
Nobach also was never afraid to hire anyone back. Even if somebody did something egregious, “he’d still give you a chance,” said employee Jeremy Schei, 26.
Nobach married Patty Marsh in 1965 and the couple had four children, all of whom work for the company, employees said. They’ll carry on the business, they said.
In his leisure time, in addition to heading to Palm Springs in the winter, Nobach liked to barbecue at home during the summer. He was an avid Seahawks fan and attended many games.
“He’ll be missed,” Lawson said.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
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