January 26, 1932 - February 17, 2021
Robert Rowland Fisher was born to Grace (Rowland) and Jack Fisher in Innisfail AB on January 26, 1932 in a house just north of the Moose Hall. He died suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021 from a massive heart attack, at the age of 89.
As a young boy, Bob did errands for the owners of the Club Café, as they paid him with plates of Chinese food, which he enjoyed. Bob served his country by enlisting as a member of the 14th Armed Regiment – King’s Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) when he signed up on April 15, 1948. He received his honorable discharge on November 1, 1951. He was called up for active duty from July 30 until December 31, 1950. He then returned to service as a member of the reserves from October 8, 1956 until May 1, 1960. Bob worked up north in Yellowknife at the Negus gold mine starting in September 1951, later returning to Innisfail where he spent some of his earnings having a well dug for his mom, as they had no running water at the time. He married Yvonne Templeton of Calgary / Spruce View in 1954. Bob and Yvonne lived for a time in Calgary, where their first son, Kenny, was born. They returned to Innisfail soon after, where Bob joined the Alberta Provincial Correctional Service as a Correctional Officer at Bowden Institution. Following his graduation from the fine arts program at the Calgary College of Arts in 1957, Bob became the Arts and Crafts instructor at Bowden. During summer breaks he worked as a shift boss. When Bowden Institution came under federal jurisdiction in 1974, Bob became the full time hobby shop instructor, a position he held until his retirement in 1987. He said he enjoyed this job as he enjoyed teaching others.
He became father to three more children, Kathy, Donna, and Rob. One of his proudest moments was on Oct 10, 1985 when he and his brother Leslie were both presented with their Corrections Exemplary Service Medal of Canada and Bar, the Bar signifying 30 years of service in Corrections. They attended a ceremony at Government House in Edmonton and were presented their medals by then-Lieutenant Governor Helen Hunley. Bob retired after 32 years of distinguished service. He enjoyed a long and healthy retirement. His passion was the Royal Canadian Legion. He served two terms as President, and served as Chairman twice.
He discovered a talent for bowling and completed the Master Bowlers Instructor Course. He became a certified instructor and taught several local youth 5-pin bowling. He volunteered for 20 years with the local chapter of Big Brothers and Big Sisters as a bus driver. He also continued to serve and volunteer for the Legion, and did some traveling, enjoying a few winter trips to Arizona and Las Vegas. No great fan of winter, he was always one of the first to have his driveway shoveled after a snow.
Bob lost his wife Yvonne to cancer after 25 years of marriage. After a time, he met Jackie, who became his life partner of 39 years. They enjoyed many trips in the motorhome, and met many people throughout their trips; too many to comment on them all but as Bob said, “we always left them laughing”.
Bob was predeceased by his parents, his wife Yvonne in 1979, his brothers Art and Leslie (and wife Betty), his sister Ruth (and husband Bud), and more recently, his son Ken and niece Valerie in 2019. He is survived by his life partner Jackie Stewart, his children Kathy, Donna, and Rob, grandchildren Robert, Jolene, Michael, and Ashleigh, his sister Ivy (husband Mike), nieces Colleen, Tracy, and Shelley, nephews Greg and Parry, and cousins on his mother’s side.
Always a teacher, his wish was to donate his body to science, so the University of Calgary has accepted him to their body donation program. We joked that he is the only one of us to attend university. Bob did not want a service but when we are all able to gather once again, a wake will be held.
