Robert "Bob" Joseph Reeves

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Robert "Bob" Joseph Reeves who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Bob was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Bob knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Bob was born on February 4, 1941 at Calgary General Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His parents were Joe and Mary Reeves. Bob was raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Even as a youngster, Bob learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Bob was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Bob was raised with two siblings. He had one older brother, Bill, and one younger sister, Marilyn. Bob had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Bob, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Bob's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Bob enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests, including taking part in choir in the Anglican church.

In school, Bob was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Bob was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Bob’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Crescent Heights High School in 1960. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

Bob was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Bob was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Bob came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Dick Blinston. Later in life, he became friends with Murray and Veronica Gimbel, Mona and Brian Thomas, Maxine and Brian Taylor, Louis Tsakalis, and many others.

An objective and conscientious individual, Bob reveled in the security of his family. One of Bob’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Bob was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Bob would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Bob was blessed with two daughters, Dianne and Susan and further blessed with four grandchildren: Karissa, Gabriel, Sofia, and Angelina.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Bob was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Bob was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Bob upheld his standards. His primary occupation was Interior Design Consultant and Salesman. He was employed for 30 years Sears. Bob was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Bob approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were woodworking, stamp collecting, and. Bob was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Bob to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. Recreational sports included golfing, curling and coaching baseball. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were golf, football, hockey, and generally all sports.

Faith was important to Bob. He held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay he saw around him. For that reason he held deep spiritual beliefs that he was willing to share. He was raised Anglican, and although he did not attend church for most of his adult life, he enjoyed attending a non-denominational church later in life.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Bob used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Bob had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Vacations included British Columbia, Disneyland, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Arizona, Texas and northern Alberta with his first wife and daughters. He travelled to Europe, Canadian East Coast and Arizona with his second wife.

When Bob’s retirement finally arrived in 1996, at age 55, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. In retirement, he found new pleasure in woodworking, playing golf, playing cards with community, hanging out with friends, be active in grandchildren's lives. In many ways, Bob loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, as well as his grandchildren's sporting events, and to travel to visit family and friends.

Bob passed away on November 17, 2020 at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is survived by his daughters Dianne (Dave) and Susan (Dom); his grandchildren Karissa, Gabriel, Sofia and Angelina; his second wife Mavis; and his sister Marilyn. Services were held at Foster's Garden Chapel Funeral Home and Crematorium in Calgary. Bob was cremated and his ashes laid with his first wife's ashes in Rocky Lane at her father's grave.

All who knew him would agree that Bob was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Robert Joseph Reeves did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.

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Robert "Bob" Joseph Reeves passed away peacefully at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta on November 17, 2020 at the age of 79 years after struggling with his health for several years. He is survived by his daughters, Dianne and her husband Dave, Susan and her husband Dom, and his grandchildren, Karissa, Gabriel, Sofia, and Angelina.

Through his second marriage, Bob is survived by his wife Mavis, his step-daughters, Holli and her husband Barry, Jackie and her husband Thane, his step-son, Marty, and his grandchildren, Jade, Eric, Jacob, Hanna, and Evey.

Bob is also survived and will be greatly missed by his sister and best friend, Marilyn, as well as his in-laws (June, Wendell, Gloria, Adeline, and Olga) and his nieces and nephews (Brent, Dawn, Sandra, David, Gary, Jimmy, Michael, Debbie, Bryan, Dwayne, Quentin, Tyson, Craig, Steven, and Nicole.)

Bob was predeceased by his first wife, Mary (in 1998), his brother, Bill (in 2005) and his parents, Joe (in 1987) and Mary (in 1993). Bob had a very generous and big heart and he will be sadly missed by everyone he touched throughout his life.

When Bob was born on February 4, 1941 in Calgary, his father, Frederick Joseph “Joe”, was 27 and his mother, Mary Catherine, was 23. Bob was the middle child between his older brother, Frederick William “Bill”, and his younger sister, Marilyn Dianne. Bob lived in Calgary before moving to Northern Alberta at the age of 22 to work as a loan collector out of Peace River, where he travelled extensively throughout the northern region from Slave Lake to Hay River and along the Mackenzie Highway.

Bob met Mary in Peace River in 1963 and they were engaged in the spring of 1964. They were married on May 22, 1965 and spent their honeymoon in Victoria. In the winter of 1965, they moved further north to help with Mary’s family farm in Rocky Lane. In the spring of 1966 Bob attempted to homestead an area of land south of High Level, and while living with his in-laws he was working both farms. During the winter they returned to Calgary where they stayed with his parents while expecting their first child. Dianne Marie was born in the spring of 1967 and they returned north again to continue farming. Unable to clear the required land to keep the homestead, Bob and Mary returned to Calgary and Susan Linda was born late in 1968. Staying in Calgary, Bob worked for Sears installing drapes and as an interior design consultant, where he remained until he retired at the age of 55.

After renting and moving around Calgary, Bob bought his first home in Marlborough Park in the summer of 1973, where he lived until 2017. Bob was an active member of the community and enjoyed curling, golf and coaching baseball for his girls. He was very involved in his children’s lives and was very supportive of his nephews and nieces. Every summer the family would travel north to visit Mary’s family and they spent many Sundays and holidays with his parents, and Bill’s and Marilyn’s families. Bob was very considerate and giving and was always willing to help someone out. He was proud of his daughters and was very welcoming to his sons-in-law. He cherished his relationships with his nephews and could be counted on to join a good betting pool.

Mary became terminally ill in 1996 and Bob took very good care of her until her death in 1998. He later married a long-time family friend, Mavis, on September 27, 1999, and spent their honeymoon travelling in Europe.

Bob loved spending time with his grandchildren and was very proud of all of them. He was also a big part of his nephews and nieces lives and he enjoyed being with family and friends, on the golf course, at the curling rink, watching sporting events, and could be found enjoying drinks with Louis and the guys at Dover Pizza.

Bob will be lovingly remembered in our hearts and as he would say, “it is what it is.”

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (www.heartandstroke.ca