Joseph Leonard Marcel St. Germain

Marcel is lovingly remembered by his sisters, Rita Smith, Eva Liddicoat (Howard), Thérèse Carpenter-Hunter (Bill), and Marguerite-Rose Risbey (Arnold); Bob’s children, Brian (Dorothy), Ken (Karl), Randy (Carrie), Daryl (Terry); and by his grandchildren, Sean, Mark, Brianna, and Elise Marie.

Marcel is predeceased by his mother and father, Alex and Denise St. Germain; his wife, Rose St. Germain (nee Turcotte); his infant brother, Leonid St. Germain; his sisters, Josephine Larkin, Juliette Beaudin, and Alice Tremblay.

Born in Pigeon Lake, Manitoba, Marcel grew up the French community of St. Francois Xavier with seven sisters who loved him very much and doted on him constantly. They all had fun growing up around the family’s “St. Germain Garage & Store”.

At nineteen years old, Marcel and his friend, Siméon, jumped on a bus headed west. Once they hit Alberta, looking for work, the heavily accented Marcel introduced himself and Siméon to a ranch owner. The English-speaking ranch owner renamed them right there as “Bob” and “Slim.” Bob was a true cowboy, driving herds across Alberta and Montana and calf roping in rodeos, including the Calgary Stampede. A true horse-whisperer, Bob knew the secrets to training a horse without breaking its spirit.

Bob met his beautiful bride, Rose, in Cochrane. She easily took to working on the ranch with him. They married in June 1951 and had three beautiful boys: Brian, Ken, and Randy. Bob was also blessed with a stepson, Darryl, who he would always think of as his own. Bob and Rose were married for forty-one loving years. Those years were cut too short when Rose passed away in 1992. We can take comfort in knowing that Bob and Rose are together once again, always bound by love.

The oil and gas boom of the fifties brought them north to Fort St. John, where Bob began his career in carpentry. They later moved to Bowness in Calgary and he became known as one of the finest finishing carpenters in Calgary. Many of Calgary’s finest homes have been touched by his talented hands.

A lifelong bodybuilding enthusiast, Bob would train on his homemade equipment even after the long sixteen-hour days at work. He trained his whole life and even into his eighties. Bob always shared his passions with others, passing along his secrets to being so strong and healthy, how to ride a bucking bronco, and even how to make a better saw.

Bob only retired from carpentry a few years ago at the age of eighty-two. It was then that Bob was finally able to dedicate himself to his life-long passion of playing guitar. During his cowboy days he played in live concerts that aired on the radio. Every weekend after retirement, Bob played at local markets. He was especially well known at the Bear’s Paw Market in northwest Calgary. He had many fans and even Paul Brandt would take time to listen to his music.

Bob wore many hats throughout his amazing life; it’s unbelievable at times. He lives on in the stories that we share. So share them often. We’re all listening.