Bob Widmer, Founder Of Holiday Lights Display Widmer World, Passes At 81

PLEASANTON, CA — The lights of Widmer World will shine a little more dimly this winter. Bob Widmer, who founded the enchanting holiday display in his Pleasanton backyard that entertained for nearly 30 years, died September 28 at age 81.

Bob was born the youngest of ten children on April 13, 1944 in North Dakota, according to his obituary. After his childhood in Kimberly, Idaho, he served in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, and married his wife Susan on June 6, 1969. Bob and Susan moved to Pleasanton, where they raised their two daughters Kimberly and Kristine.

He worked as an executive in the manufacturing industry, and later as a software consultant. He was active in the Pleasanton community, and enjoyed playing bocce and participating in the American Legion events.

But Widmer is perhaps best remembered for his World. Each December, he and his family transformed his one-acre Pleasanton backyard into a fantasy world of multicolored animated reindeer, elves playing guitar, Santa's workshop, a candy shop, a manger scene, and of course, a 27-foot tree. Widmer once estimated that at least 10,000 people stopped by each season, and Widmer World was even featured on “The Great Christmas Light Fight” on ABC in 2015.

Bob is survived by his two children and three grandchildren. Services were held Friday at Grahm-Hitch Mortuary in Pleasanton.

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• Widmer World Open For 25th Season