What a pleasure it is to know Bob.  We have had so many great memories  together.  Seafood dinners were  a highlight. It was never unusual to see him pitching in and helping make a delicious meal. Florida was a special time when we did our share of relaxing, hanging out and park hopping through Disney World. We convinced him to use a scooter to help spare his knees with the long lines and miles of walking.  Bob enjoyed that so much. He got such a kick out of speeding around on it!  He often would be leading the way with others of us trailing behind or jogging to catch up. He couldn’t wait to see what was around the next bend. 
Well, Bob now has a full scope of what is around the bend and waiting for those who know and serve Jesus. What a thrill to be standing, whole, in that ‘’great  cloud of witnesses” cheering the rest of us on. No doubt Bob is saying “You can’t even imagine how perfect life on my side of eternity is! Keep running! I’ll be here smiling and eager to welcome you. “
Thank you Bob for such full, sweet memories. See you when we get there!
Love,
Carl & Kathy  

Nancy and family
Jim and I were very saddened to here of the passing of Bob.  Nancy, you and I go back a long way and we know Bob was a huge part of your life.  He was a great guy and are very sorry for your loss.  Unfortunately we are away and can’t be there but hugs for you.
Jim and Pat

I've known Bob for just under 50 years and considered him to be a true friend.

Mostly I remember doing things with Bob.  

First it was as a competitor on the baseball field on opposing teams in the BYPU baseball league. Then as a teammate on the Facer Street Baptist team when he and his brothers Brian & Kevin and Karen his sister (who I was now dating) lured me over to the dark side.  I can tell you the team didn't exist if the Hermiston's  and their respective partners didn't show up.

Next it was football where the Facer team went to Toronto to stun the Queen St Baptist church youth group on their home turf, and I don't know how many pickup games in St. Catharines.  Bob was always a big part of those teams.  

There was hockey.  I only played once with him but I watched from the stands many times.  Bob was like a young Phil Esposito.  Always around the net and too big and strong to be moved out.

As time went on, our activities became more domestically oriented.  Bob met Nancy and both Karen and I and Bob and Nancy got married within 3 months of each other.  This of course was followed by constantly helping each other move.  We must have been involved in upwards of ten household moves over a period of about 7 or eight years - sometimes Bob and Nancy's, sometimes Karen and mine.  I'm surprised that we had anything that wasn't broken. 

I can't forget Exhibition Stadium - Every time we went there for any event it poured rain on us,  There was the ELP concert.  It rained so hard that people were ripping up the artificial turf to get some shelter.  Then the Argos game.  They had to clear the seats because of a series of thunderstorms were rolling through lighting up the metal benches we had been on.  One time we were leaving an event where we didn't get wet and were trying to beat the crowd.  Bob was leading as we were breaking through.  I was fast on his tail before the path closed up.  Bob made a quick jog, I kept going right into a pond up to my knees. 

 Bob always knew the fastest way to get around the screwed up St. Catharines street system.  I'd go my fastest way, Bob would go his, and always beat me.  I swear he must have teleported car and all.


And of course I can't forget that after Karen passed, Bob was my best man when I married Claudia.

Mostly I remember Bob as a great friend that would drop everything to help you.  A gentle giant that I will miss dearly.


Gary


 


To be a little girl in my Uncle Bob’s life was to have the sun rise and set on you. His otherwise strong will would quite willingly bend and buckle with every word and smile and giggle. I was one of the first beneficiaries to this lifelong affliction of my uncle’s; I am certain with his handful of granddaughters, that I have not been the only beneficiary. Perhaps it was because we provided a gentle reprieve from his two big boisterous sons, who had his heart in their own right but certainly couldn’t bewitch the big fella like we could. He never called me anything other than “Pretty”, like it was my name, not because I was necessarily, but because I was to him. The years got away from us after my Mom, his sister, and then my Grandma, his mom, passed away, and I put many kilometers between us, but I’m so grateful to have seen him one last time last Christmas. Same as ever, I snuggled beside him on the couch and it felt like home. Suddenly, I was that little girl again. I loved him as much as ever. My childhood memories are peppered with those our family shared with my Uncle Bob and Aunt Nancy and cousins Robbie and Bryan: camping and bbqs, family dinners and games; and since these words are really for those he’s left behind, they’ll understand when I say, “nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey, goodbye”. For now, sweet Uncle.

Part 2 of 2  
Memories of my big brother -
When moving to a new school, often mid-term, we always could count on Bob to make sure we made it to and from school.  Even then ‘family’ meant a lot to him.  He never lost his devotion to those he loved.
When Bob turned 16 he left school in order to help support the family. He did it willingly but it was just as unfair then as it is now.  His sacrifice allowed the rest of us to stay in school.  That was typical of Bob doing whatever he could for his family. 
I was ever so proud of him when he completed his schooling years later and continued on to college.  
I have memories of playing road hockey for hours and hours, in apartment parking lots or in front of the house.  We never seemed to get tired.  The great thing about being young back then was that no parents were needed, just a bare patch of pavement, some old shoes or boots for goal posts, a tennis ball , well-worn sticks (wooden) and our imagination.  
As we got older, we were involved with the BYPU at the Facer Street Baptist Church- those were some really wonderful times.
All of the siblings, found partners and started families of our own. Bob and Nancy enjoyed 45 years, two strong and strapping sons and more grandchildren then I can count. In every conversation I had with my brother in those 45 years, it always included talk of family. The boys, my daughter, his nieces and nephews and his most beloved – his grandchildren.  
I will always remember my big brother as a kind, gentle, giving, caring and yes ‘sweet’ man. I hope he knew how much he was loved- nearly as much as he loved his family. 
Every conversation always ended the same, and it bears repeating – “love you Bro’ . 



 Part 1 of 2
Memories of my big brother -
Growing up in our house was never easy for any of us, especially Bob.  Our father had this tremendous urge to wander, to move onto something and someplace new.  Consequently, we moved frequently, always starting new schools, finding new friends and trying to stay grounded.  I can count 13 different schools before entering grade 9- it would have been more for Bob.
This constant upheaval in moving from place to place and job to job, left the family for the most part what we would kindly today call the ‘working’ poor.  Later on, we would joke that poverty was something we aspired to.  While   arguments between our parents regarding the lack of money were often.
My earliest memory of how little we really had was while we were still in Fort Erie, Kevin would not have been in school yet.  Our Dad had gone off to Toronto in search of work.  My mother was left with four children, no money and almost nothing to eat – save a bottle of canned plums.   I remember Bob and I going up and down the streets gathering pop bottles.  We didn’t come home until we were able to get enough empties for a loaf of bread. Like everything in life, nothing stays bad or good forever.  We all survived.
1 of 2


Bob you will be so missed. Thank you for your kindness and willingness to help. So many good memories. Our trip to DC. Bob planned every day of our trip and we saw absolutely everything. Katelyn had Bob carrying all her shopping bags on that trip. Nathan especially loved Bob. Going up the Isle for Katelyn's wedding  he said a loud and joyous Hi Bob!! We will take care of Nancy. Precious in the sight of the Lord.

OBITUARY

Robert Wayne Hermiston

September 12, 1949 – February 16, 2019

Hulse & English Funeral Home & Chapel

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