Robert George Ingram

It is with great sadness that the family of Robert Ingram announces his passing at the age of 86. Bob is survived by his wife Evelyn of 47 years and his daughter Sandra (Gordon) Hood. Bob is lovingly remembered by his three grandchildren, Colleen (Gerard) Janssen, Gregory (Heather) Hood and Justin Hood as well as five great grandchildren, Jayke & Vienne Janssen, Sierra, Payton & Jorja Hood. Robert started life in Alameda Saskatchewan where he was born and resided for the most of his life. Bob was the youngest son in a family of seven children, starting life on the prairies where material goods were few & far between. Bob never saw a nail he couldn't straighten or a scrap of lumber that couldn't be used. During the depression, Bob`s family moved north to Kelvington, Saskatchewan in 1934 to escape the drought where he went to school & worked on various farms until he returned to Alameda in 1942. Boarding with a relative who had a dray business, Bob helped with dray work which involved a horse & cutter in the winter. Later he worked for a local farmer for five years who helped him build a house in Alameda for himself and his father & mother who came back to Alameda to live with him for health reasons. Bob worked a couple of years for a machine dealer assembling & operating machinery and for extra money started driving a school bus. In early years the roads where not even graveled and were so poorly maintained that in winter the school bus was a Bombardier. In 1957 Bob took over the dray business until he started work for the Town of Alameda in 1964. On February 2, 1962, Bob married Evelyn, the love of his life. Bob was a "Jack of All Trades" and enjoyed operating every machine that came his way. The Town of Alameda was truly a special place for Bob and he continued working for the town until his retirement in 1985. Bob retired from the school unit in the same year after 31 years driving his bus route. In 1997, Bob & Evelyn moved to Calgary to be closer to family, although Bob always longed for the prairies. During his time in Calgary, Bob was very active and greatly enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Most of his time was spent at Colleen & Gerard`s acreage in Bearspaw. Bob suffered a debilitating stroke in November of 2006 and after rehab, resided at the Beverly Centre in Lake Midnapore until his passing. A Celebration of Bob’s Life was held in the third floor chapel of McKenzie Town Retirement Residence at 20 Promenade Park SE, Calgary on Thursday December 16, at 1:30 pm. Interment services will be held at a later date in Alameda Saskatchewan.

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"A Tribute to Grandpa" by Colleen

Wisdom. It may not be a word you would automatically associate with my Grandfather. Growing up in a time where dyslexia didn’t have a name and working hard with your hands on the farm was valued more than schooling – Grandpa didn’t benefit like the rest of us with the ability to enjoy a book, use a computer, write a paper – really most things that take up probably 80-90% of our day, Yet – he was wise. He was very wise. The lessons that he has left for us he lived and demonstrated, consistently and daily. His lessons reside within that precious 5-10% “rest of our day” that is otherwise too crammed driving kids around, making bill payments, working, buying groceries, and just dealing with the busyness of life. Yet, they are lessons that are poignant and these lessons can’t be found in a book. These lessons are Grandpa’s legacy to us.

First - Marvel at a Big Sky – Grandpa maintained a deep love for Saskatchewan and wasn’t truly happy unless he could look out at an unbroken horizon – so when you see a horizon – stop and marvel.

Get your hands dirty – rolling up your sleeves and getting to work was what Grandpa was all about. He felt no job was too big or too small. We all benefited from Grandpa’s labours – from houses to garages to fences and cupboards – Grandpa truly was a jack of all trades.

Do everything with pride and grace – He saw every task as a task worth doing well. Everything Grandpa did he did with a bounce in his step and a whistle on his lips – even if it was helping us out with our sewer.

Take care of yourself – long before I knew that flax seed had any benefits – Grandma and Grandpa were sprinkling it on their cereal. They were health fanatics before their time.

There is beauty in consistency – Watching Bobby come to the acreage every day at the same time with his jar of coffee and peanut butter and honey sandwich, change into his work clothes in the garage and then get to work for the day – for me felt like a warm blanket. I could always count on him to take his coffee and cookie breaks (keeping cookies aside for the kids) and to watch “Bold and the Beautiful” after lunch. The consistency that set his life’s pace gave me some peace that I didn’t always get from the craziness of my own schedule.

Keep a kid in your soul – Perpetually young, grandpa taught me the value of hanging onto my inner-childlike wonder, which gave him the uncanny ability to relate to children.

Nothing is impossible – there is always hope. As recent as two weeks ago Grandpa told me he’d be out by the spring to help me out with mowing the acreage and to take care of those darn moles. This same lesson can be applied to all of Grandpa’s inventions. – There is always hope. Like the time he took all of Grandma’s old panty hose and tied the tomatoe plants up in the greenhouse – and truly we never had such a bountiful harvest.

Take your time – Bobby spent hours teaching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to walk and skate. He understood that planting a garden or watering trees can’t be rushed. He honoured those things in life that had a slower pace – and they honoured him back.

Be yourself – Grandpa was refreshingly straightforward and honest. He had no hidden agendas and no reason to beat around the bush.

Keep it simple – So many times he shook his head as he watched me run around in my usual multitasking state – like a chicken with my head cut off. It would be during those times when I’d catch him with his coffee and cookie and he’d remind me of the beauty of simplicity and slowing down.

Honor your wife and love your family –Grandpa absolutely adored Grandma. Whenever he spoke of her to me – I knew they had true love. As for the rest of the family –I know he loved and treasured being part of our family more than any of us will ever know.

His last and most valuable lesson is simply – Live a long, happy and good life.

Everyone wants to leave a legacy – Grandpa you did. Your unwavering strength and ceaseless hope has been weaved into our lives. And as we deal with the pain of missing you - it’s your strength, hope, love and wisdom that we can reflect on and draw our own strength from. If nothing else – you’ve taught us to work hard, take breaks, enjoy a good cup of coffee, slow down, be a kid, love lots, and a take in a big gulp of fresh air whenever you get the chance.

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"Memories of Uncle Bob" by Kyle “The Farmer (as he called me)” Hope

Bob was many things to many people but to me he was just my favorite uncle. It was a big day when Bob was coming to the farm to visit. I would make sure the yard looked extra pristine as I knew he would expect nothing less just as he kept the cemetery in Alameda in tip top shape for so many years. Bob was a very well spoken man and a great story teller. I would hang on his every word as he explained his newest invention. Who knew you could make a leaf mulcher out of an old washing machine? Well, Bob did.

I also enjoyed his many tales of Charlie and himself going for coffee in Oxbow. I loved to hear about Bob and Aunt Evelyn’s gas runs down to Bowbells just across the border with the big two tone blue van. “Just going for coffee” he would tell the border guards as they would go across the line and fetch a couple of jerry cans of cheap US gas. I wonder if Bob could have pulled off that trick after 9/11. I am sure he could because the guards liked him so much, as did everyone that had any prolonged access to Bob.

I think what I learned the most from uncle Bob was selflessness. He was always willing to lend a hand to someone in need without being asked. He spent many days driving seniors from the area to appointments in Regina. I remember when my niece Ashley was learning to walk, Bob walked her all day, hunched over, never saying once that he was tired, just went when she wanted to go. He would take 2 weeks of his own time every year to come to our farm and help us with harvest. No one asked him to come, he just felt he was needed and he was. Our machinery never ran so well as when Bob was at the farm.

We will certainly miss his helpful hands, gentle demeanor and that big infectious smile.

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"Memories Of Uncle Bob" by Melissa Haas aka “Charlie Brown” and Candis Ziola

Bob was in our eyes somewhat of a saint… we must say! We held him on a pedestal… we never once saw him get angry and he was always giving of himself to help others. We adored the way he treated his wife Evelyn, he was such a kind and gentle man. We watched him in amazement as he was always there for our Grandpa (his brother) through his battle with cancer that he eventually lost. We remember watching Bob at his bedside feeding him his blended up lunch and helping the nurses reposition and move him and thought “Now that is a fine example of brotherly love!!!” Not many brothers could handle that pressure of watching a loved one die. His love and compassion was so apparent and his strength amazing. This carried on even after Grandpa died he continued to come and each time my Grandma would have a Bob-do-List and he would take care of it for her.

We felt very close to Bob and Evelyn because they always had a way of making you feel special and very loved even when you may have been in trouble. They never once judged and you felt that you were loved unconditionally and they would be quick to tell you that its never so bad and that it is human to error. Then they would proceed to explain to us when they may have also slipped up in life…They were genuine people and were always close by no matter how far away they were in distance.

We have not had much contact with them, only a few visits in the years they have been in Calgary, but our Mom keeps in touch with them and relays all the news to us. It was very hard decision for this country bumpkin to pack up and move to Calgary but after lengthy consideration he followed his family. I am sure it took a lot out of him leaving all his ties in Saskatchewan and lord knows we missed them like crazy. There was a huge void in our life! But he found a great place to reconnect with that rural side of himself, it was Coleens acreage. I do believe this is what got him through some days, going out there to the solitude and just puttering. Each time we talked he would mention what he had accomplished out there. He loved being so close to you guys. He adored your children and was very proud of your accomplishments…you were the world to him and he always brought pictures and many stories for us about you guys.

Bob also had a sense of humor, I hesitate to say a good sense of humor. One day at the kitchen table I asked him to throw the butter over here so he did…Evelyn was not too impressed but he thought it to be really funny…

Well dear Bob, we have learned a lot from your fine example and have been so blessed to have known you. You truly are an inspiration to us and our families… Rest In Peace….

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"Tribute to Uncle Bob" by Darlene

I am privileged and honored on behalf of the Ingram nieces and nephews to have the opportunity to pay tribute to our uncle at the celebration of his life. I have learned lots myself in reading the tributes written by my nieces and nephews.

My most vivid recollections of Robert Ingram:

Uncle Bob, very tall, young and looking like our father, invariably pulled into our farmyard each summer driving a new car. We thought he must be rich. Indeed he was rich in smiles, laughter and enthusiasm! He talked lots and loudly. Our father was quiet. No task that Dad was currently involved in was too much for him—be it installing running water in the house, fencing and digging shallow wells by hand. In fact some of those ideas may well have been Uncle Bob’s. They seemed to work hand in glove for a short time and then Uncle Bob was gone as quickly as he appeared. We never seemed to have any idea when these visits would happen or end.

Initially he arrived to deliver Granny and Grandad Ingram for their summer stay at the farm. Then one year he came with a new car and a new girlfriend. She was small, pretty and quiet. Our house was always noisy.

The next year there was a new car, the girlfriend and her 10-year-old daughter Sandra. What excitement he always brought into our farm lives! I haven't much recollection of a lot that happened. What I do remember was that it was a well-known fact that Dad and Uncle Bob slept in my parents room while Mom and Aunt Evelyn (who was not our aunt yet) slept together in our room. Where we four girls slept seemed of little consequence!

Bonnie, as a young child never could tell the difference between Dad and Uncle Bob. She now recalls that he always took time from whatever he and Dad were doing to take her to the mile corner for an ice cream in his new car. He would buy her the largest cone that he could buy. She also recalls the he and Aunt Evelyn were always most interested in our kids and our grandchildren.

Then we were grown-up and married. Invariably Uncle Bob and Aunt Evelyn tried to visit our homes, farms, harvest fields, and gardens as often as they could. And then they stayed three whole months with mom during dad's last illness.

He and Aunt Evelyn seemed to complement each other in quiet service to fellow man. I'm not really sure exactly what Uncle Bob did in Alameda besides everything—Town Man, restaurant helper, grader operator, lawn and cemetery mower, garage attendant with someone foggy-in-my-mind like some cousin of his, and bus driver.

Lavonne recalls most vividly Uncle Bob the night her second daughter was born. Lavonne, Eddie and Melissa were spending the winter in Alameda where Eddie was taking care of the skating rink. Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Bob were to babysit Melissa while Lavonne and Eddie went to the hospital. However……when Lavonne went into labor, Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Bob were out playing cards for the evening. Eddie tracked them down and they arrived but Uncle Bob did not intend to babysit: he was driving them to Oxbow to the hospital. There he paced with Eddie until a ten-pound-baby girl announced her entrance to the world in the loudest way any baby could.

About twenty years ago I was commissioned to do a reading in Wawota and Moosemin libraries. Aunt Evelyn made sure I read in Alameda as well. I was elated –I got to visit and stay in Alameda with Uncle Bob and Aunt Evelyn. I arrived at 2:00 a.m. after teaching all day to both sitting up with lunch waiting for me. I have never stayed in a hotel before or since that gave service like I received those couple of days.