Robert (Bob) C. Moffatt

To capture the essence of such a dynamic person in just a few lines is impossible.

For our Dad’s 80th birthday, we all wrote notes to him to express our memories and impressions. His daughter Beth wrote that she always knew who her biggest cheerleader in life was. Beth recalled she could not “plant a garden, pick a berry, pat a dog, hammer a nail, salvage a piece of string, put her skates on, drive a standard, sit in a boat, prune a tree, see a bee, light a fire, sweep snow off the front step, roast a chicken or give something away, without thinking of [her] dad”. She loved and knew her dad to be a thoughtful, unselfish human being, whose life has only ever been about service to family, to others, to the land and to the community.

Nancy’s recollections were about his sense of humour: enjoying and sharing a good story or joke and seeing the humourous side to most situations, clearly seeing a way to make things happen, yodelling at the top of his lungs as we skipped across Nym lake, dancing a jig when he was really happy, seeing his mischievous wide toothed grin knowing that he’d been up to something, admiring how, at a young age, he overcame a very difficult situation but never complained or laid blame. She admired and loved his ability to talk to just about anyone and find common ground. He always looked for and saw the best in people. She loved his generosity and the breadth to which he extended himself to others. The gifts he shared, whether it was as small as a jar of jam or as large as an education, impacted the lives of so many.

Born August 17th, 1928, Robert C. Moffatt was the 7th child of 8 brothers and sisters. He was raised in the picturesque village of LaRiviere, MB, nestled in the Pembina Valley along the shores of a winding river and surrounded by the abundance of prairie farmland. Life was not always easy for the Moffatt siblings but they always had plenty to eat and were all taught the importance of hard work, self-reliance, respect for the land, and sharing one’s abundance with others. Bob made himself well acquainted with the neighbours and often helped out on the neighbouring farms. He learned some great skills and soon sought work with the B&B gang (Bridge & Building) with CP Rail – proud to be following in the family tradition of railroading. That didn’t last too long as he had fibbed about his age and was let go. Fortuitously, his eldest brother Archie encouraged him to head east to work for him which eventually led to a job at Steep Rock Iron Mines. He arrived in Atikokan on September 14, 1944 at the young age of 16 and began work as a general labourer, driving the hydraulic service truck and then operating a Caterpillar out on the mud flats. After a convalescence in the Sanatorium he worked on the pump barges and found the time to create beautifully tooled leather belts, purses, and wallets – a skill he was taught while in hospital.

Recognizing a need in the community, he started his first business in 1949. Bob’s Taxi was the catalyst for his career. As the owner and driver, he was the unofficial ambassador to Atikokan and Steep Rock. He drove all the dignitaries that came to town as well as the new arrivals – young men coming to work at the mines and their families. Bob’s Taxi was also the first ambulance service in town – they had a car and at that time, it was enough. From there, Bob, with the support of his wife Fern, opened a service station, a bulk fuel plant, and then a second gas station. He was eventually approached to be the local specialty steel distributor which led to the formation of Bob Moffatt Supply Ltd. Moffatt Supply grew and prospered with several branch offices across Canada. Calmang Steel was formed in the 1970’s to sell a special manganese alloy steel which he formulated and had manufactured in Canada.

In 1980, Bob sold his company to his young employees and began to pursue prospecting and the hunt for gold! He educated himself in the science of geology and was determined to help find other new mining properties for Atikokan.

He was a winter Texan, spending 40 years in the Rio Grande Valley. He loved it there! The people, the agriculture and the opportunities all made it a special place for him. Never one to be idle, he invested in the valley with interests in an orchard, vegetable crops, and the development of two retirement communities. There was always time for a round of golf, a discussion about the stock market, and gardening. He would find a patch of soil and grow tomatoes, radish and beans to share with friends and neighbours. You never left Bob’s place empty handed. He always had a little something to give: jam, marmalade, gardening gloves, a grain fed chicken, a polishing cloth…

In the 1950’s and 60’s he coached many young kids in hockey. Bob was a terrific athlete himself, playing the sport all his life as a defenceman.

Philanthropy and service to his community were high on his priority list. He was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge, served as a Shriner for over 55 years, a Lifetime Meritorious Member of the Royal Canadian Legion and Canadian Institute of Mining and Charter member of the Atikokan Kiwanis Club. He was also Charter president of the Atikokan Conservation Club, a 60+ year member of the United Commercial Travelers, recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NWO Prospectors Association and a nominee for the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame. Bob was the corporate and personal sponsor of many hockey and baseball teams, and aspiring players. Community projects both in Atikokan and his home town of LaRiviere, MB, meant a lot to him and he supported them enthusiastically. Throughout his life he gave to many charities and worthwhile causes including multiple bursaries to the graduating students of the Atikokan High School. He truly embodied and exemplified the importance of service to others and sharing your abundance.

Bob is survived by: His youngest sister, Jerry Pladsen; his daughter Nancy and her husband Cris Myers of Atikokan, ON; son in law Frank Coulas of Spruce Grove, AB, husband of Bob’s daughter Beth; and daughter in law Paula and her husband Riccardo Verin of Marathon, ON. He was the proud Grandpa to Andrea Myers-Pfeifer and her husband Richard Pfeifer of Thunder Bay, ON; Karen Myers and her husband Paul Dziedziejko of Elmira, ON; Jillian and her husband Kyle Orum of Hanna, AB, Robert Coulas and his husband Caley Shukalek of Calgary, AB; Allison and her husband Andrew Allen of Marathon, ON; and Terry Golding and his partner Trisha Brinklow of Marathon, ON. He was known as Grandpa Bob or Great Grandpa to Grant and Alana Myers-Pfeifer, Easton and Lively Dziedziejko, Natalie and Jack Orum, and Miles Allen. He is also survived by his wife Fern’s family, Bill and Evelyn Shine of Fort Frances, ON, and Glenn Shine of Burlington, ON. He was known as Uncle Bob to so many - those related by blood and those who felt a profound kinship to him. He nurtured a loving relationship to his many nieces and nephews (Uncle, Great Uncle and Great Great Uncle) of both the Moffatt and Shine families.

Bob will be reunited with those that have predeceased him; his beloved wife Fern, daughter Beth, his parents Sam and Edna Moffatt, Fern’s parents Emil and Martha Shine, as well as his siblings and their spouses: Amelia; Archie (Red), Mamie Caron and Peggy Moffatt; Ida and Lloyd East; William (Bink), Henrietta and Jean Moffatt; Mildred (Mid), Charlie Johnson and Max Stewart; Neil and Verna Moffatt, and sister in law, Mary Joan Shine.

The final chapter has been written in a book that only he could write. Bob Moffatt passed away peacefully, his hand held tightly by his daughter Nancy.

If you wish to make a donation in Bob’s memory, his favourite charities were The Atikokan General Hospital P.O. Box 2490, Atikokan, ON, P0T 1C0, Riverview United Church, P.O. Box 730, Atikokan, ON, P0T 1C0, LaRiviere & Community Recreation Assoc., P.O. Box 86, LaRiviere, MB, R0G 1A0 and Shriners Hospitals for Children.