Obituary of Robert Cole

Robert “Bob” James Cole passed away at Riverside Health Complex, Turtleford, Saskatchewan, on September 25, 2020 at the age of 81 years.

Bob is survived by: his wife of 47 years, Elaine Cole; daughter, Marina (Kevin) Foulds and their children, Wendy (Brad) Macnab and their children, Maya, Kaebri, and Kyran; Michael (Tara) and their children, Kaiden and Kael; Alyssa (Kayne) Charlton; and Nathan (Kasie); son, Glen (Roxane) Cole and their children, Ashley (Ted) Cochrane and their children Kay, Theo and Maylin; Shae Cole; Jaeden Cole; and Hailey Cole; daughter, Twila (Richard) Doom and their children, Brandon and Chelsey Doom; son, Randy (Colleen) Cole and their children, Krista Cole; Jeffrey (Laisha) and their child, Lucas; and Sheldon; and son, Terrell (Lhea) Cole and their children, Taya (Tate) Steistol; Bailey Cole; and Tyne.

Bob was predeceased by: his parents, Sam (1968) and Teenie (1971) Cole; his first wife, Betty-Lou Cole (1970); In-laws, Sam and Mary Lawrence and Oscar and Kathleen Gordon; brothers, Herbert and Sam Cole; sisters, Mary Cormier and Mina MacDonnell; and sister-in-law, Shirley Pauls.

A Funeral Service in memory of Bob will be held on Friday, October 2, 2020 at 2:00 PM.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this service will be by invitation only.  Those who cannot attend in person may view the live streaming of the service which will be posted on our website at the time of the service.

Donations in memory of Bob may be made to Canadian Cancer Society,  Heart & Stroke Foundation or Canadian Lung Association.

Bob's funeral card can be viewed or downloaded from the link below. 

https://indd.adobe.com/view/1a19cc49-fc26-4309-9c0e-8a22800722fc

Eulogy:

Robert James Cole was born February 27th, 1939 to parents Samuel and Teenie Cole.  He was the tenth child of twelve siblings and was raised on the family farm west of Edam.  He attended Poplar Dell school until grade 9 at which time he traded in his pencil for a fork.  He farmed along side his dad for several years until travelling to Alberta where he spent winters packing ice houses.  He eventually made his way back home to Edam and found work at Foster’s Services.  This was a local John Deere dealership and it was there that Uncle Bob would learn a great deal about mechanics.

In 1960, Uncle Bob would marry the local school teacher, Betty Lou Lawrence, from Turtleford.  They had three children, Marina, Glen and Randy.  Together, in 1966 they purchased a local fuel company and created a thriving business they could both be proud of.  Unfortunately, Aunty Betty passed away suddenly in 1970, turning Uncle Bob’s world upside down.  For the next few years, he managed to maintain a successful business and raise his children, the best he knew how. 

It seemsAs it would turn out Uncle Bob had a thing for Turtleford girls and In 1973, he married Elaine Gordon.  Elaine had one daughter, Twila, that Uncle Bob raised as a daughter of his own.  In 1980, Bob and Elaine would also add a son, Terrell to the mix. 

Through the many years that Uncle Bob was in the fuel business, the company would transition from Royalite, to Gulf ltd., and eventually Petro Canada.  With all the changes occurring, he created his own company known as Cole Petroleum.  He and Cole Petroleum were widely known to many in and around the surrounding communities.  He sold his fuel company in 1998 after 32 years of business.

For several years, as a hobby, Uncle Bob dabbled in honeybees.  In 1985, his hobby transpired into a business opportunity as he purchased the honey apiary in Cavalier.  It was soon to be known as BOB BEES HONEY FARM.  It became a thriving business for him where he ran upwards of 400 hives. 

Aside from babysitting Terrell, It was at the honey farm where I really got to know my Uncle Bob.   He was a great man.  A man of few words, extreme patience and always delayed responses.   I recall Kevin calling him daily on the 2-way radio to see if he wanted us to knock down hives in a particular yard.  We could here the radio cutting in and out reassuring us that he was on the other end, yet he would remain silent for several hours, in which time we would head out, complete the job and be back at the honey house unloading supers, before we would hear.……”ya….I guess you should probably do that”.   It was the highlight of my day.  He was never one to rush into any decision.

As my first boss, Uncle Bob set the bar high.  He taught me that a work day was not scheduled by hours but rather by the work load.  The day was never over until the job was done.   We put in several long hot days in that honey house but we always we knew we would be rewarded with a “cold one” in the end.  I remember others complaining about their jobs and I would always brag about mine.

After close to 25 years in the honeybee business Uncle Bob slowed down to just four hives in his backyard where you knew you could always find him sitting on a warm spring day.  I once stopped by and spent a whole hour there.  I pulled up a chair and just sat watching him as he let the bees crawl all over him.   He loved just sitting there, soaking up the sun and grinning.   Yup…it was a whole hour.  He never said a word.  It really was one of my best visits. 

If he wasn’t playing with the bees or tinkering in his garage he could be found BBQing.  He loved his BBQed steak.  Uncle Bob liked cooking in general.  Family will always remember his perfectly cooked Christmas turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy and turnips.

He was a very committed community member spending nearly 20 years on the Credit Union board, countless hours with the Lions club, and 18 years making some of the best curling ice in the area.  Uncle Bob always enjoyed a good curling game but more than that he loved the socializing that came with it.  He is and always will be credited for the curling ice surface beer wicket window idea where the booze can be passed onto the ice surface from the basement smoker room.  What a great idea!!!   He is also credited with building and grooming the cross-country ski trails in and around the Horse Hill area.

He loved horses, dogs, hunting and camping with family at Picnic Lake.  He followed the Three Stars and was especially proud of his family on the ice.  He particularly enjoyed the battles they had with Turtleford as this was sure to result in friendly banter with Aunty Elaine.  

Uncle Bob loved people.  Everyone really.   The door was always open and coffee was always on.   He would always offer up a glass of whiskey or if you were special, some of his homemade wine.

He would take his place at the table, cross his legs, and rock back and forth, rubbing his knee, listening to the conversation, piping up with the occasional “Jesus” this or “Jesus Christ” that.    But mostly he would just grin, chuckle to him self, shake his head a bit and eventually listen in again.   As mentioned earlier, Uncle Bob was well known for his delayed responses.  Anyone that has ever had a conversation with him has experienced how he could leave you hanging mid-sentence.  It seemed like an eternity before he ever finished it, if he ever did.  So many stories that I will never know the end too.

After almost every one of my visits I would text my wife and tell her how happy I was that I made the effort to stop.  Not sure if it was just how relaxed Uncle Bob made me feel or just because of the conversation we had that day.  Or……. because I was tricked once again with the berry flavored homemade wine that he always insisted wasn’t very potent, only to leave half snapped.  And sometimes that would be at 10 am.  Regardless…….I am sure going to miss those visits.

He was a brother, husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa, a coach, a teacher, and a respected businessman.  To us and many others .…. he was an uncle.  But not just an uncle.  He was our friend.   

We know where he is right now.  He is wayyyyyyyy up there watching, listening, and grinning, sitting down amongst the flowers where the bees are plentiful and the honey flows like water 12 months of the year.

We love you and you will me missed by all!