It is with profound sadness that the family of Mr. Robert “Bob” Kenneth Chester Edwards, announce his passing at the T.B.R.H.S.C. on Friday, March 25, 2016 at the age of 62 after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Bob was born in Port Arthur, Ontario on December 18, 1953. He attended Rosslyn Village School and Churchill High School. He lived his whole life in the municipality of Oliver Paipoonge.
Bob spent his younger days fishing, hunting, camping, playing hockey at rural rinks and baseball with the Murillo Mudhens. He met the love of his life, Louisa and at the age of 18, they got married and started their family together.
Bob began working at a young age in the bush, cutting and skidding trees. He then worked at the Rosslyn Brick Yard followed by 30 years of service with Ontario Hydro / Hydro One at the coal generation plant, next as a regional forester then as a forestry technician. He made great friends with his fellow employees. He retired in the summer of 2011.
Bob was never idle. He spent countless evenings and weekends working in the bush to get ahead for his family. This enabled him to build his first family home. From there he built three more homes, most recently a retirement home where he planned to settle next to his family through his golden years.
Bob loved life and loved being surrounded by his family and friends. He is well known for his sense of humour and his genuine laugh. He enjoyed being in the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, golfing and travelling were some of his greatest joys as well as his hobby of landscaping with his backhoe. He was talented at fixing and building most anything and always willing to tackle a new project.
In the past 15 years he was blessed with six grandchildren who were his pride and joy. Countless hours were spent giving quad rides or teaching baseball, golf and fishing. He loved attending his grandsons' hockey games or simply having the kids hang out with Grandpa Bob.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Louisa (Pepe), his daughter Kerri-Ann (Bernie) Kamphof, son Michael (Lindsey) Edwards, grandchildren Emily, Ethan, Eric, Ashton, Alyssa and Owen, parents Stanley (Pat) and Roberta (Betty) Edwards, sisters Karen and Ellen Edwards. He was predeceased by his in-laws Antonio and Antoinetta Pepe.
Funeral services for Robert Edwards will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Harbourview Funeral Centre beginning at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Joe Hamilton of First Christian Reformed Church officiating. Visitation will commence at 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be held at Stanley Hill Cemetery following the reception. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to a children’s charity of your choice.
Those we love don’t go away,
They walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear.
