Obituary of Robert Lee Thiessen

Robert "Bob” Lee Thiessen 1958 ~ 2013 Robert "Bob” Lee Thiessen passed away Saturday, June 15th, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer at Dawson Creek , BC. Robert was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan on January 25th, 1958. He was the third child of Leonard and Anita Thiessen. Bob had a zest for life and was constantly challenging himself with new and unique experiences. This was apparent at an early age when he rode his first 2 wheel bike that was twice as big as him; and while picking up bales with his brother, setting the load on fire accidently when the tractor backfired (although his father was always suspicious that it could have been careless smoking). Bob left home at the ripe age of 16 in his ’62 Chevy’ in search of new worlds and landed in Alberta. Here fate played a role in his life as he went out a fire escape and jumped off a roof, to avoid a fight going on in the entrance of the hotel he was staying at, and met ‘face to face’ with his future loving wife. They were married for 35 years and were blessed with two wonderful children, his ‘pride and joy’ and became his ‘best friends,’ along with his parents, brothers and sister. Salesman, farming, returning to school, building and operating a hotel & tavern, driving a water truck, managing a fertilizer business, sawmill, and finally working in the oil and gas industry – he showed his diversity by taking on the different challenges no matter where it took him; Granum, Regina, Saskatoon, Red Cliff, Fort Macleod, Sidney, Chase, Pritchard, Sorrento, Lee Creek, Drayton Valley, Bassano, Sedgewick, Killam, Three Hills and Dawson Creek. While constantly upgrading, fixing and repairing each home where they lived with his self-taught carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills. Camping and travelling were his favorite things to do. He loved the Shuswap, most recently spending any spare time he could on his property there or out on the water, boating, swimming, waterskiing and spending time with his family. He is predeceased by his (Father) Leonard Thiessen, and is survived by his (wife) Jacolyn , (daughter) Jennifer (Scott) Stevens (grandson) Austin and (son) Blakeney "Blake” Thiessen. (mother) Anita Thiessen; (sister) Lois (Dave) Jones and their children Tanya Jones, Lindsay (Jeff) Kluthe; (brother) Ron Thiessen (Bev Becker); (brother) Barry (Stacey) Thiessen; (father & mother-in-law) Donald (Merle) Gassner; (brother-in-law) Gordon (Donna) Gassner; (brother-in-law) Larry (Lena) Gassner and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. Inurnment took place in the Herbert Cemetery Columbarium Herbert, Saskatchewan. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Bob may be made by donation to The Alberta Cancer Foundation 710, 10123 - 99th Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3H1