Horseshoe season is underway but a prominent pitcher is missing.
Bob Taschner, a founding member and long-time tournament director of the Prince George Horseshoe Club, died of a heart attack on April 29. Taschner, who was 65, won't be far from the minds of club members as they toss ringers this spring and summer.
"He was one of the greatest horseshoe players and he did a lot for the horseshoe club," said friend and fellow player Maureen Braun. "One of the things he enjoyed in life was playing horseshoes. He did a great job as our tournament director and he was a very pleasant man."
Born in the United States, Taschner was introduced to horseshoe pitching by his father, Frank, who was a tournament player in Michigan. The younger Taschner was always around the game and that fostered his love for it. Years of practice made him a tough guy to beat.
"Bob had a beautiful, natural flip to his throws - really high," said Prince George's Vic Vallee, who knew Taschner for about 35 years. "He was probably one of the best flippers in the province as far as throwing one that was open and had a uniform turn all the way. He won his fair share of tournaments."
Taschner played mostly at local and regional events, usually in the 'A' class. He claimed titles in Prince George and Quesnel and placed third at the provincial championships in 2006.
Vallee had many head-to-head battles with Taschner, including one during a local tournament in June of 2012. The two men clashed in the 'B' division final after Taschner had defeated Mike Cunningham in the first leg of a three-way playoff. Vallee managed to top Taschner but doing so was always a challenge.
"He could beat you at any time if he got hot," Vallee said. "He had a good game.
"But he was really easy-going," Vallee added. "He never got upset. Fierce competitors might tend to get a little edgy sometimes, but not him."
Taschner was a cook in the United States army during the Vietnam War but moved north of the U.S./Canada border in the years that followed. In this region he and his wife, Mary, first lived in Fort St. James, where he did missionary work and she was a teacher.
In Prince George, Vallee first remembers meeting Taschner in Fort George Park, where local horseshoe pitchers used to gather to play their games. At that time, there was no formal club in the city. But, according to Vallee, Taschner and Meredith Virtue "played a huge role" in its formation.
The first home of the Prince George Horseshoe Club was at Recreation Place. Shoes were tossed at that spot from the late 1980s until the end of the 2004 season. Redevelopment of the area resulted in the club moving to Carrie Jane Gray Park for 2005 and the horseshoe courts have been there ever since.
During his years in Prince George, Taschner worked as a florist and often used his green thumb to the benefit of the club.
"He did very beautiful bouquets of flowers and another thing he did for the horseshoe club was plant flowers at home and bring them down and make the horseshoe club look very nice," Braun said. "He did a very good job of that."
Aside from horseshoes, Taschner enjoyed lawn bowling and crafting. He sold his crafts - which he made with meticulous attention to detail - at local fairs and at the Farmer's Market. Perhaps his most popular items were his funny hats.
"Every time you went (to the Farmer's Market) he had a big smile and would show you all his stuff and told stories on it - where it came from," Braun said. "He went to the States every year and bought his material to make these things.
"He was a super-nice guy."
Vallee, meanwhile, said Taschner was "probably the most generous person I've ever met. He would give people anything. He was very loyal - an excellent friend."
Inside the clubhouse at the Carrie Jane Gray horseshoe courts is a plaque that honours deceased members. Vallee said Taschner's name will be the next one added.
Taschner is survived by Mary, brother Donald, and sisters Nancy, Pearl and Julia. A funeral service was held for him on May 7 at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
