Robert Allen Wade

Robert Allen Wade was born in Halifax, NS to Chester Allen Wade and Hester Elizabeth Withers, natives of Granville Centre, NS on 30 May 1920. He was descended from Nova Scotia Planters, some of the earliest settlers in Canada. As a young child he moved with his family to Winnipeg. He was the middle of five siblings. His father worked on the Canadian National Railway as an agent/operator, a trade that his three sons all followed. As a child Robert Allen lived in Fort Rouge and Somerset in Manitoba and in Kipling, Saskatchewan, where he finished school.

Bob, known to his family as Allen, joined the 17 Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery in 1939 shortly after the declaration of war. By 1940 he was based with his regiment in England. In 1943 he went with his regiment to Italy and fought many hard battles, breaking the Hitler line near Cassino on the push up the Liri Valley to Rome. This was followed by the momentous battles breaking the Gothic line and pushing up the Po Valley on the Adriatic Coast. Through it all Bob was in the thick of it as a member of the forward observation team, a very perilous job. In early 1945 Bob deployed with his regiment to Holland and fought the final battles of the Second World War there and in Germany.

When he returned home he made his living as an agent/operator on the CNR and was married to Margaret Emeline Gair of Portage la Prairie in early 1950. They had four children; Marilyn (Ricci), Fletcher, Kathryn, and Kenneth (deceased 1976). The family lived in several small communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, eventually settling in Rainy River in 1970, where Bob was the agent.

Bob retired in 1980 and he and Margaret began a full life of traveling, golfing, and visiting family and friends, all across Canada. By 1994, after several years of wintering there, they moved full time to Qualicum Beach, BC where they surrounded themselves with good friends and filled their days with golfing, card playing, their church activities, and just enjoying their life with their many friends. They were healthy throughout their stay there and it was only in the last two years that health concerns began to affect them. In June 2009, in response to Margaret’s deteriorating health, Bob, himself having just recovered from a serious heart operation, decided to move to Atikokan to be nearer to the support of family. Unfortunately, soon after their arrival in Atikokan, Margaret passed away. Bob soldiered on alone, surrounded by family and good friends and this got him through that rough time. Despite failing health he kept active in the community and still traveled to visit family and friends. In 2010 alone he made three trips; to Quebec, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia to visit friends and family, displaying the strength of character and indomitable spirit that defined him.

With a new pacemaker, the last few months of his life were characterized by a new vitality and a positive outlook for the future. It looked like he would have several more years with us. Alas, it was not to be. On Monday, 03 January, during a dinner party where he was happy and dynamic, he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. He died seven days later surrounded by his family and tended lovingly by the wonderful nurses and staff at Atikokan General Hospital.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Chester and Hester, his siblings Neil, Shirley, and Grant; his son Kenneth; and his wife Margaret. He is survived by his sister Joan, his children Marilyn, Fletcher and Kathryn as well as nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and several members of his extended family, those that he has embraced as his own and who also brought him joy.

Bob will be missed. He lived his life with integrity and he gave much more than he took. He loved his family, his friends, and his life, and he gave his all to stay amongst us. He leaves a proud legacy of service, kindness, and loyalty. He has earned his place in heaven.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Atikokan Fellowship Church.

The honourary pallbearers will be all of Bob’s grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at a later date.

If friends or family so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Atikokan General Hospital or the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 145 in Atikokan in care of Green Funeral Home, Box 427, Fort Frances, Ontario P9A 3M8.

On-line condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com