Robert "Bob" Joseph Reeves

Robert "Bob" Joseph Reeves passed away peacefully at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta on November 17, 2020 at the age of 79 years after struggling with his health for several years. He is survived by his daughters, Dianne and her husband Dave, Susan and her husband Dom, and his grandchildren, Karissa, Gabriel, Sofia, and Angelina.

Through his second marriage, Bob is survived by his wife Mavis, his step-daughters, Holli and her husband Barry, Jackie and her husband Thane, his step-son, Marty, and his grandchildren, Jade, Eric, Jacob, Hanna, and Evey.

Bob is also survived and will be greatly missed by his sister and best friend, Marilyn, as well as his in-laws (June, Wendell, Gloria, Adeline, and Olga) and his nieces and nephews (Brent, Dawn, Sandra, David, Gary, Jimmy, Michael, Debbie, Bryan, Dwayne, Quentin, Tyson, Craig, Steven, and Nicole.)

Bob was predeceased by his first wife, Mary (in 1998), his brother, Bill (in 2005) and his parents, Joe (in 1987) and Mary (in 1993). Bob had a very generous and big heart and he will be sadly missed by everyone he touched throughout his life.

When Bob was born on February 4, 1941 in Calgary, his father, Frederick Joseph “Joe”, was 27 and his mother, Mary Catherine, was 23. Bob was the middle child between his older brother, Frederick William “Bill”, and his younger sister, Marilyn Dianne. Bob lived in Calgary before moving to Northern Alberta at the age of 22 to work as a loan collector out of Peace River, where he travelled extensively throughout the northern region from Slave Lake to Hay River and along the Mackenzie Highway.

Bob met Mary in Peace River in 1963 and they were engaged in the spring of 1964. They were married on May 22, 1965 and spent their honeymoon in Victoria. In the winter of 1965, they moved further north to help with Mary’s family farm in Rocky Lane. In the spring of 1966 Bob attempted to homestead an area of land south of High Level, and while living with his in-laws he was working both farms. During the winter they returned to Calgary where they stayed with his parents while expecting their first child. Dianne Marie was born in the spring of 1967 and they returned north again to continue farming. Unable to clear the required land to keep the homestead, Bob and Mary returned to Calgary and Susan Linda was born late in 1968. Staying in Calgary, Bob worked for Sears installing drapes and as an interior design consultant, where he remained until he retired at the age of 55.

After renting and moving around Calgary, Bob bought his first home in Marlborough Park in the summer of 1973, where he lived until 2017. Bob was an active member of the community and enjoyed curling, golf and coaching baseball for his girls. He was very involved in his children’s lives and was very supportive of his nephews and nieces. Every summer the family would travel north to visit Mary’s family and they spent many Sundays and holidays with his parents, and Bill’s and Marilyn’s families. Bob was very considerate and giving and was always willing to help someone out. He was proud of his daughters and was very welcoming to his sons-in-law. He cherished his relationships with his nephews and could be counted on to join a good betting pool.

Mary became terminally ill in 1996 and Bob took very good care of her until her death in 1998. He later married a long-time family friend, Mavis, on September 27, 1999, and spent their honeymoon travelling in Europe.

Bob loved spending time with his grandchildren and was very proud of all of them. He was also a big part of his nephews and nieces lives and he enjoyed being with family and friends, on the golf course, at the curling rink, watching sporting events, and could be found enjoying drinks with Louis and the guys at Dover Pizza.

Bob will be lovingly remembered in our hearts and as he would say, “it is what it is.”

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (www.heartandstroke.ca