Obituary
ROBERT DOUGLAS (BOB) BONNETT.
Bob passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre on Friday, November 6th, 2020. He was 75 years old.
Bob was born on September 20, 1945 to Gordon and Margaret ( Bottrell) Bonnett. He was the third of ten siblings. He was raised on his parents’ farm and went to school in Rorketon, Freedale and Million.
Bob married Elaine Weaver on February 3, 1968 in Calgary, AB and his son James was born on July 19, 1969, in Thompson, Mb.
Bob lived his life farming (1971 -2014), operating cats (his own included), doing land clearing, digging dugouts, building roads, plowing in telephone cable; construction work on gas plant sites, diamond drilling both on surface in bush camps and underground in Thompson, Manitoba. He drove school bus for 29 years and enjoyed working with the students and the trust and support he built up with the parents. He loved horses and worked with them throughout most of his life. He also liked cutting & splitting firewood, and all aspects of making hay.
Bob was co-owner of Bonnett Insurance Agencies (1980 – 2006) and the Rorketon Liquor Vendor (1995 – 2006).
He was a volunteer fireman on the Rorketon Fire Department for 18 years and worked his way up to Deputy Fire Chief. He held certificates in Level One Fire Fighting, First Aide and CPR. Bob was a lifetime member of the Freedale Community Club and always supported their activities; whist card parties, snowmobile, trike and quad derbies, turkey shoots and Christmas parties, etc. He volunteered as an assistant hockey coach for the Rorketon Hockey Club when Jim was playing hockey, then switched to five years as coach of the Freedale Broomball team which he enjoyed.
Bob was predeceased by his mother Margaret in 1965; his step mother Gertie in 2003; his father Gordon in 2017; brothers Ken (Catherine) in 1996; and Charles (Margaret) in 2018; sister-in-law Margaret (Miller) in 2004; father-in-law Lynn Weaver in 2005, brother-in-law Laurent Beasse in 2017; and niece Brenda (Locoshavich) Bonnett In 2009.
Left to mourn Bob’s passing are his wife, Elaine, of 52+ years, his son James, daughter-in-law Brenda Hill-Bonnett and his grandson Jesse, who was the apple of his eye. His brothers: Barry, Dennis (Susan), Keith (Geraldine), Martin (Gayle), and Richard (Pat). His sisters Marlynn Dumas, and Edith (Fred) Taylor. His sister-in-law Catherine Wozniak; His Mother-in-law, Olive Weaver, sister-in -laws: Lorraine (Dan) Iwanchysko and Lynda (Robert) Scott; his special niece Vanda Fuller, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
In accordance with Bob’s wishes cremation has taken place. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the family has delayed the burial and would now like to invite family and friends to attend the graveside service at the Ridgeway Cemetery, Rorketon, MB on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 2:30 pm with lunch and celebration of Bob’s life to follow at the Lawrence Community Complex in Rorketon. We look forward to seeing you there. Please bring your lawn chairs as there is no seating at the cemetery. COVID 19 gathering restrictions will be observed.
Should anyone so desire, donations in memory of Bob can be made to the Ridgeway Cemetery Trust Fund, PO Box 141, Rorketon, MB. R0L 1R0; Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.
Our family would like to thank Dr Smith and the team of doctors, nurses and support staff for their care of Bob during the several hospital stays in the last year of his life. We really appreciated the caring way they treated Bob and us at these times.
We would also like to thank our family and friends for the help, flowers, cards, phone calls and the condolences on Facebook. They were all greatly appreciated. Thank you to Blaine Watkinson for building the urn for Bob. A job well done. Thank you to Ryan Raffray and Sneath Strilchuk Funeral Services for their caring and valuable assistance at this difficult time in our lives.
-Elaine, Jim, Brenda & Jesse
Sneath-Strilchuk -Ste. Rose Chapel
204-447-2444
www.sneathstrilchuk.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert «Bob» Bonnett, please visit our floral store.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Robert Bob Bonnett September 20 1945 November 6 2020 (age 75)..
sneath strilchuk funeral services
Décès pour la Ville: Dauphin, Province: Manitoba