Robert William Schellenberg

He was predeceased by his parents, William and Johanna, loving wife Lenita and his sisters, Helen Louise and Shelley. He will be fondly remembered by his brother Paul (Sandy), his devoted godson Kevin (Monica) and their daughters Maiah, Heidi and Zoe, his many nieces and nephews and countless treasured friends.

Schelly lived a life full of adventure. Born in Leamington, Ontario, he would tell many stories about growing up on the farm, and how his parents' work ethic shaped his life. At 18, he set off for the University of Waterloo, where he completed an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering. After finishing his master’s in Applied Mathematics, he was recruited into teaching, almost by accident, when he attended a presentation on campus. It was like the stars had aligned, as he often said that a career in teaching was the last thing on his mind. He, and his wife Lenita, had a passion for teaching and coaching, and made an indelible impact on students throughout their many years in the Halton School Board. Schelly made many lifelong connections with colleagues and students.

In his free time, Schelly was an avid hiker, and completed the Bruce Trail just over three times, which amounts to about 5,000 kms! He also loved to travel, especially with family and friends. However, the place that he held the most dear, was his beloved cottage on Weslemkoon Lake. Those who were lucky enough to have been hosted by him and Lenita, will remember hiking, cliff jumping, boat rides, gorgeous sunrises and evenings talking by the fire.

It could be said that Schelly never met a stranger and was blessed with the gift of the gab. He was passionate about people and always wanted to leave people feeling better after spending some time with him. He made a point of asking and remembering everyone’s name. He treated everyone with compassion and kindness and would never let you leave without telling you how much he loved you.

Schelly leaves a legacy of love and empathy. He would often say that “Life is like a rainbow: almost as soon as you see it, it’s gone.” He encouraged us all to live life to its fullest and never to take our loved ones for granted.

We trust he will be reunited with his dear wife Lenita. For those of us left behind, we will treasure the memories of his exuberant laugh, sly wit, and the world’s best hugs.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Huntington Society of Canada or the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.