Robert Williams-Freeman

It is with profound sadness that we the family of Robert ‘Bob’ Regan Peere Williams-Freeman, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, announce his passing at the Fort Macleod Hospital on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. He passed away peacefully at the age of 91 years old. 

Our father was born on March 29, 1928 in Shropshire, England to George Napier Peere and Emily Alice [née Ready] Williams-Freeman. He was predeceased by his wife Georgina, son Richard, grandchildren Michael and Georann, sister Naomi Foster, brother in-law Vernon Foster, sister-in-law Renée and brother Peere. He was also predeceased by the parents of his wife, George and Bertha Davis, her great-grandparents Charlie and Rosie Davis, and Joe and Dorothy Bull Shields.

He is survived by his dear friend Betty Abramenko, brother Anthony Williams, sister-in-law Anne Williams-Freeman, children Shirley Fowler (Bruce), Barbara, Grant (Carol), Kerry (Becky), Dana (Lianne) and daughter-in-law Lori, grandchildren Dean (Tina), Jason, Cherie (Daniel), Jarret (Melissa), Mitch (Kelly), Joseph, Gabriel, Holly (Edwin), Greg, Amanda (Devin), Julian (Colinda), Celine (Adam) and Megan (Desmond), step-grandchildren Lyla, Elijah, Bryna, Nick, Matt and Neil. He is also survived by many beloved great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and his faithful dog Scooter. 

Bob emigrated with his family at the age of one to Canada and settled in the Vermilion, Alberta area, where they farmed during the Great Depression. He left home at a young age to find employment in the farming, lumber and railroad industries. At the advice of his older brother Anthony, he enrolled at the Alberta College in Edmonton. It was at the college that he met our mother Georgina Davis, who was from the Kainai Nation. Bob and Georgina were married on February 14, 1949 and lovingly raised a beautiful family. Our Dad was proud of his grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; their special name for him was ‘Bama’. 

Bob began his career in agriculture as a Certified Irrigation Designer. He earned the position as General Manager of Oliver Irrigation, the largest Valley Irrigation pivot dealership in Canada, and for many years traveled throughout western Canada and most of the United States. After retiring, he continued to design and sell Reinke irrigation systems. For his remarkable efforts in advancing the irrigation industry and for maintaining a high standard of irrigation technique and procedure, he was presented with the Crawford Reid Award by the Irrigation Association in 1988. 

One of our father’s passions was flying an airplane, and in order to increase the range of his business contacts he became a certified pilot. Subsequently, he spent time as the Director and President of The Lethbridge Flying Club and developed lifelong friendships with his fellow flying buddies. 

After retirement, Mom and Dad moved to an acreage north of Fort Macleod and there he enjoyed serving his community in a multitude of ways. Bob was a member of the Rotary Club International, where he took pride in being actively involved in fundraising. He was instrumental in the ‘Los Amigos’ project which donated an ambulance, a fire truck and a handibus to Mexico. As he aged, he was honoured to take on the role of the President of the Fort Macleod Senior Citizens Welcome Mat, and loved to socialize and play pool with his fellow members. 

It is so hard to let our Dad, Papa, Bama, treasure and friend leave our loving arms. We know that he is at peace and will forever be in our hearts. 

His Funeral Service will be conducted on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at the Anglican Parish of Christ Church, 320 21 Street Fort Macleod, Alberta.

In Bob’s name, donations may be made to the Fort Macleod Senior Citizens Welcome Mat, P.O. Box 181, Fort Macleod, Alberta, T0L 0Z0. 

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