Devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother, passed away in his 96th year at The Village of Riverside Glen, Guelph on December 3, 2022.
Survived by his wife Mavis, sons Thomas (Lucinda), Peter (Sharon) and daughters Susan (Colin Sewell) and Allison Wagner (Benjamin), grandchildren Kirsten, Derek, Tyler (Jara), Erin, and Kaitlyn (Jonathan Chapman), and Raimond, Cameron and Matthew Madill.
Bob was born on the century farm in Guelph Township on November 19, 1927. He proudly served the City of Guelph as a Professional Firefighter and retired after serving with the Guelph Fire Department for 35 years, where he saw the implementation of improved safety measures and advancements in technology. Bob had tremendous physical strength and was well-suited to the rigours of firefighting and his hobby, construction, as both required strength and tenacity.
Bob was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist. His work with the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) took him many miles on foot and snowshoes throughout the county. He distributed Rabies Vaccine Bait, strategically by hand in targeted areas, in order to protect the health and safety of the public, their pets and livestock, and provincial wildlife populations. Bob donated over 100 units of whole blood to the Canadian Red Cross Society, before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was an active volunteer with the Guelph Township Horticultural Society, and a neighbour you could simply drop in on, for a visit or to ask for a favour.
In his long and active retirement, Bob spent leisure time at the family cottage near Pointe Au Baril and the Fergus Hunt Camp on the Magnetawan River, Algonquin Park and moose-hunting in the north. Bob was an avid reader of non-fiction, Canadian history and geography. Walking his dogs and reminiscing with buddies helped pass the golden years until Bob’s health necessitated Long-Term Care and The Village of Riverside Glen became his home. There, he received care and kindness in his declining years.
The family would like to thank the excellent care and attention Bob received from the dedicated and compassionate staff of Arthur Neighbourhood, at The Village of Riverside Glen.
Family and friends will be received for a visitation at the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph, on Tuesday, December 6, at 2:00 pm, followed by a service in the chapel at 2:30 pm, with reception following (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com).
A family burial will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park, on Wednesday at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Guelph Firefighters Benevolent Foundation would be appreciated.
There’s a golden glow in the western sky, as day slowly fades into night
And life, like the day as it fades away, quietly fades from sight.
It’s a peaceful end to a life well-spent, and time moves along, as it must.
The final chapter, the last page done, the future is left to trust.
And as memories fade in the mist of time, love will forever endure
‘til the rivers run dry and the birds cease to fly and the last wave laps at the shore.
MFH
A tree will be planted in memory of Robert O. (Bob) Heming in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.