BOB WEIR

1917 - 2013

The family of the late Robert Weir wish to announce that his address changed on Thursday, September 5, 2013. Formerly of Bow Island, he now resides in the Robert Weir Mansion, welcomed to the community of Heaven by his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and by numerous family and friends who have made Heaven home before him. He was 95 years.
Relatives and friends were invited to meet with the family at the Evangelical Free Church, 214 - 4 Avenue West, Bow Island on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
A private burial service was held at the Bow Island Cemetery prior to the funeral service.
The Funeral Service was held at the Evangelical Free Church, 214 - 4 Avenue West, Bow Island on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 2:00 P.M.
Bob will be deeply missed by Dorothy, his beloved wife of almost seventy three years and their three children Jim (Phyllis) Weir of Brooks, Roy Weir of Brooks and Merrilyn Strom (Stephen Smith) of Medicine Hat; daughter-in-law Laina Weir of Ames, Wisconsin and by his eleven precious grandchildren Kristene (Norris) Hirch of Bow Island, Jerry (Bonnie) Weir of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Tammy (Koos) Wysbeek of Lethbridge, Bonnie (Andrew) Payne of Carman, Manitoba, Loretta (Percy) Foley of Stettler, Rachel Weir of Brooks, Robert (Sarah) Weir of Scandia, Melanie Strom (James Karras) of Taber, Barry (Jennifer) Strom of Lethbridge, Oscar (Christy) Strom of Lethbridge and Kyle Strom of Calgary; thirty one great grandchildren and ten great great grandchildren. He also leaves to cherish his memory, his sister Lois Appleton of Taber and his brother Tom Weir of Vancouver, British Columbia; brother-in-law Jim Wallwork of Bow Island as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many dear friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Mildred (nee McKnight) and Earl Weir; son Bill Weir; daughter-in-law Beverley Weir; son-in-law Barry Strom Sr.; great grandson Gabriel Strom; four sisters, one brother and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Bob was born in Medicine Hat on November 28, 1917. He grew up in a family of eight children near Grassy Lake. He met Dorothy while they were both working at the John Neil sheep ranch south of Burdett and they were married on September 21, 1940. Bob joined the Armed Forces in World War II and was sent to England and Germany. In 1949, they moved to Cowe’s Ranch beside the river north of Bow Island and raised their own sheep. Later, they built a house on a parcel of land closer to town and moved there with their family. Bob’s granddaughter, Kristene, was teaching young children in Sunday School and asked him to be her helper. It was there he became known as Uncle Bob. He loved children and he always had a pocketful of mints to pass out to anyone who asked, most especially to his grandchildren and the Sunday School kids. He and Dorothy “retired” from farming and moved into Bow Island where they began janitoring the Bow Island Elementary School and later helped janitor at Cherry Coulee Christian Academy. Dorothy, at the age of ninety, after again “retiring”, decided they could deliver papers and so began three years of delivering the Lethbridge Herald to their Bow Island customers, Dorothy driving and Bob delivering! They could often be seen in their blue car driving slowly along the highway or a secondary road picking up cans and bottles in the ditches. Bob had decided he would use all the money they collected to support needy children around the world which he did for many years. He loved to walk and spent hours walking all over their farm land caring for the sheep, changing irrigation pipes or checking crops. Up until a week before his passing, Bob walked the halls almost daily at Long Term and prior to that at the Lodge. He also enjoyed bowling, woodworking, being outdoors, doing yard work in the summer and shoveling the sidewalks in winter. Bob and Dorothy lived on their own until October 2010 when they moved into the Pleasant View Lodge in Bow Island. Dorothy was moved to Long Term Care in April of 2012 and Bob joined her there at the end of July, 2013. He also loved to go for drives and often went with his granddaughter, Tammy, or his daughter, Merrilyn. The last ride he took was two weeks before he went home to be with his Heavenly Father. He was a kind, loving, faithful and generous man and he will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Bob’s name may be made directly to Cherry Coulee Christian Academy, Box 10370, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0 or to the Southern Alberta Bible Camp, Box 99, Lomond, Alberta T0L 1G0.