ÉTHIER o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-11-27 published
STALKER,
Robert
With courage and dignity, Bob
STALKER died at the age of 74 on
November 25, 2007 in the embrace of his wife and daughters. He
will be greatly missed by his wife Jacqueline, his daughters
Patti GRAY/GREY,
Lynn
PRESTON, and Bobbi
ÉTHIER, their spouses, Bob
BANKOSKY,
Brian
PRESTON, and Mike
ÉTHIER, his grand_sons Jamie
GRAY/GREY,
Jeremy
GRAY/GREY and Paul
DESCHAMBAULT, his brothers Stan and
George and members of his extended family. Robert
STALKER was
born in 1933 in Broughty Ferry and spent his childhood in Scotland.
At the age of 14, he boarded the R.M.S. Aquitania with his family
and headed for Pier 21 in Halifax. Like other immigrants to Canada
after the second world war, Robert and his family had to spend
their first few years on a farm. As soon as possible, however,
his parents opened their own corner grocery store in Midland,
Ontario and Bob himself escaped farming by joining the Air Force.
At the age of 16, Bob met Jacqueline
DAOUST at a high school
graduation dance. They dated and married in Ottawa two years
later after he was established in the Air Force and she had graduated
from teacher training at Ottawa University. Their 55 years of
marriage were filled with joy and happiness plus a fair bit of
challenge and accommodation due to Air Force transfers which
had the family living in eighteen different homes in Canada,
the U.S., and Europe during Bob's thirty years in the service.
Finally settling in Winnipeg by choice, Major
STALKER retired
from the Air Force in 1980, took Easter weekend off, and then
began a second career with the Federal Government. His next and
last retirement in 1984 enabled him to pursue new challenges.
He continued running or walking five miles a day and also, through
diligent hard work and persistence, became a vintner 'extraordinaire'
which his family and Friends wholeheartedly appreciated. Retirement
enjoyment increased with the 1993 purchase of a villa in Florida
and his wife's retirement in 1995. The villa, named Palybo after
their children Pat, Lynn, and Bobbi, was the centre of activity
for all of the extended family and Friends. This sanctuary from
cold Canadian winters became a very special place where everyone
was welcome. Bob loved the ocean, the outdoors, classical music,
walking along the beach, and being with his family, including
visiting animal members. He was an avid reader and always had
an Economist at hand and a history book close by. After retiring
from the service, he also volunteered for political candidates
that he believed in and worked for political parties he supported.
Despite annual physical checkups throughout his life, prostate
cancer was only diagnosed in December 2005. Bob
STALKER will
be greatly missed not only by his family but also by all of those
who knew him. The family extends sincere thanks to Doctor Bennett
at the Health Action Centre, the staff at Cancer Care Manitoba,
and especially to each and every caring dedicated staff member
of 3 East Palliative Care wing at Riverview Health Centre. Cremation
has taken place and, according to his wishes, no service is being
held at this time. As an expression of sympathy, donations may
be made to Cancer Care Manitoba or to 3 East Palliative Care,
Riverview Health Centre Foundation, Morley Avenue, Winnipeg R3L 2P4.
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