Kunio Robert Koizumi

Bob was born in Claxton Cannery, BC, a small fishing village at the mouth of the Skeena River. To ensure their children received an education, the family moved south to Strawberry Hill (North Delta). Bob’s father died in 1938, but his mother with the help of Bob’s older brothers, continued to operate their egg and strawberry farm until 1942 when due to the War Measures Act and because of their Japanese heritage, they were forcibly relocated to Manitoba.

Bob’s family were required to serve as farmhands in Balmoral until the end of WWII. After the war, he helped his oldest brother Riichi farm sugar beets in Emerson, MB, and in the offseason, worked odd jobs and in lumber bush camps until in 1958, when attending night school for drafting, a manager from Inter-City Gas came looking for someone to hire. The instructor recommended Bob and that year, he moved to Portage la Prairie, MB to kick off a 33-year career in the natural gas utility industry. When he wasn’t working for hours on end at a drafting table, you could find him helping with fieldwork, volunteering with the local Kinsmen Club, and giving back to the community.

It was in 1942 when Bob first met Reiko Nishibata and her family. Both families were being removed from Vancouver on the same train and were confined in Immigration Hall in Winnipeg before being assigned to work farms in rural MB. In 1946, Bob’s oldest brother Riichi would marry Reiko’s oldest sister Emi. Although Reiko’s family was relocated to Emerson, this connection fostered the relationship between Bob and Reiko in the years that followed. The couple would later fall in love and on Nov. 5, 1960, were married in Winnipeg, MB, at Westminster United Church.

In the early 1960’s the couple worked hard to build a future for themselves. The two were inseparable and Reiko would often accompany Bob on work travel to rural MB, BC, WI, and MN. Life wasn’t always about work for Bob, whose favourite memory of those years was spending time with Reiko enjoying the summer, sand, and water of Winnipeg Beach. In 1968, they would welcome the birth of their only child Robert (Rob) and later that year purchased their first home in the community of Westwood in Winnipeg.

Bob was devoted to family and in recent conversation described the pleasure he had watching Rob play hockey on the outdoor rinks in Winnipeg. He would smile, recalling how between periods parents would have to remove skates to warm the players’ frozen feet. Bob loved fishing, camping, curling, and golfing with Rob and happily volunteered to transport Rob and his baseball teammates in his 1975 Ford Econoline van to wherever they needed to be (except for one occasion when they ran out of gas on Kingsway Ave.).

Wherever they went, Bob and Reiko were well-respected in the community and made everlasting friendships. Reiko was well-known for her volunteering at schools Rob attended, for her work at the Leduc Public Library, and for her meticulously prepared meals and desserts any guest would thoroughly enjoy. Bob was known as a “no-nonsense” boss who stuck to his principles, favoured no one, but treated everyone with respect and dignity. He knew all too well how it felt to be treated less-than-human and never wished that on anyone. But friends and family close to Bob knew and treasured a softer, fun-loving, and humorous side to him. Before having children and grandchildren of his own, he loved to spend time with his nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Without hesitation, Bob and Reiko would have any of them over and even took some on vacations to give temporary relief to their parents. They loved making special memories with family and friends in places like Thunder Bay, Bemidji, Teulon, Winnipeg, Emerson, Hallock, Lancaster, Leduc, Lloydminster, Meadow Lake, Slave Lake, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Calgary, Campbell River, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Honolulu, and more.

Bob retired in 1991 and it didn’t take him long to develop a passion for golfing with some of his best friends and family, vacationing in Las Vegas, and having the best of times in Honolulu with Reiko and family. Hawaii was the perfect blend of sights, sounds, food, and weather for Bob and Reiko.

But in 1999, Bob was diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM). The diagnosis of this rare muscle degenerative disease explained why over the previous few years, he would unexplainably trip and fall without any obvious reason. Thankfully, in its early years, the disease was slow progressing which allowed him to enjoy his expanding family that came after Rob and Michelle were married in 2001. In 2003, granddaughter Keiko was born and in 2005 came the birth of grandson Kiyoshi.

The years that followed were joyous for these grandparents whose lives revolved around their grandchildren’s: school events, dance, helping with homework, hockey, basketball, birthdays, or any excuse for an occasion to be together was good enough for them. When Bob became fully dependant on his wheelchair for mobility, he still followed his grandchildren and their activities to various gyms and hockey arenas across Alberta, while creating precious memories for us all. After travel became too difficult, he still kept track of them with regular phone and video calls regardless of where they were. He was inspired and in awe of them as they transitioned from children into young adults; and he was so proud of who they’ve become. They were his strength and reasons to keep existing after Reiko passed away in 2013.

Michelle had a special place in Bob’s heart, too. She was the daughter he never had who after Reiko passed away, quietly filled in many of the gaps left behind. Michelle and Bob also had their “We” projects. All too often, they would concoct projects “We” could do. “We can do this and that. We can build a shed. We can redo the landscaping, and so on.” Such enthusiasm and conviction. Funny how after each project started, the “We” changed to “Me” as Rob fell for the bait and switch every time. Joking aside, Michelle was always there in Bob’s times of need. In his last week at the hospital, she wouldn’t allow Bob to be alone and he was so comforted by her presence any time Rob couldn’t be there.

Bob will be dearly missed by Rob and Michelle, Keiko and Kiyoshi; brothers-in-law Ken Nishibata, Terry Nishibata, and sisters-in-law Tineke Nishibata, Emi Koizumi, and Suzue Nishibata; as well as numerous other beloved relatives and friends.

Bob was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Reiko, his father Yojiro Koizumi and mother Take Koizumi, brothers Teiji (Ted) Koizumi and Riichi Koizumi, brother-in-law Mori Nishibata, sisters-in-law Nancy Nishibata and Itoko Nishibata, and niece Eileen Swanson.

At Bob’s request, there will be no service. However, his family encourages those who knew and loved Bob to celebrate his life in a personal way by reminiscing about him or even doing something you used to enjoy together.

The family wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to Dr. Balko and the staff of the Leduc Community Hospital, who provided Bob with the utmost care and compassion in his final days. A special thanks to the staff at Leduc Lifestyle Options and Dr. Simard (Smyth Associates) who for many years also helped care for Bob and provided him a quality of life. Finally, to all of Bob’s friends and family, past and present… thank you for sharing your lives with Bob and Reiko and giving them such joy and happiness for so many years. We can find peace in that they are reunited now and are continuing their journey together.

In his own words, Bob would remind us that life is meaningless without death; to accept death as an important part of life. He would want us all to live each day to its fullest and not take tomorrow for granted.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Koizumi family may be shared here at www.HainstockLeduc.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (friendsofcmhr.com).