Obituary for Allen Robert "Bob" Whitesell
1927 – 2019
Mr. Allen Robert ‘Bob’ Whitesell, beloved husband of Mrs. Alice Whitesell, passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Monday, May 13, 2019 at the age of 91 years. Bob was born in Rimbey, Alberta on September 3, 1927, the third son of Delbert and Olive Whitesell. He grew up on the family farm during the Thirties and WWII. He was seven years old when he started playing the mouth organ, “self taught”. All his life he loved to sing and passed it on to his children. He dated Alice McCulloch for five years, and then in 1953 he married her. The couple moved to the Peace Country, as he had taken a job as a Forest Officer. They moved to Manning, Alberta in May 1954, where he started work for Turner Bros. IHC. In 1956, he earned a Journeyman Partsman Ticket. They raised five children in Manning, and then moved to Red Deer, Alberta in 1973. In Red Deer he was a partsman, a carpenter, and finished his career in 1993, with Nova Chemicals, as a Warehouseman Tool Crib Attendant. He loved to play baseball, hockey and curl. While in Manning, he was on several Boards; as a Plumbing Inspector for low cost housing, a Volunteer Fireman, an Arena Board Member and an Officer in the Air Cadets. After moving to Red Deer, he was involved with the Legion, Red Deer Rock and Gem Club, and loved to watch the Red Deer Rebels. He enjoyed many weekends of Rockhounding, hunting and fishing. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling and loved family events. Bob loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He provided unfailing support for his family, friends and community. Bob will be lovingly remembered by his devoted wife of sixty-six years, Alice Whitesell; their children, Betty Campbell of Red Deer, Alberta; Rob (Wendell) Watson of Peace River, Alberta; Pat (Barry) Nilsson of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta; Lyn (Tom) Layton of Rimbey, Alberta; Rick (Barb) Whitesell of Red Deer, Alberta; thirteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. He will also be fondly remembered by his brother, John Whitesell of Sundre, Alberta, and his sister, Ruby Sakofsky of Red Deer, Alberta. Bob was predeceased by his parents, Delbert and Olive Whitesell, stepmother, Sadie Whitesell, a baby sister, Betty Jean, a sister-in-law, Louise Whitesell, brother, Harry and wife, Marion, brother, Charles and wife, Audrey, brother-in-law, Gordon Sakofsky, a nephew, Trevor Sakofsky, his in-laws, Robert and Elsie McColloch, Bob and June McCulloch, Chris Unger, and Glada Freeson. A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held at Parkland Funeral Home, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations in Bob’s honor may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.ca. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040 or 1.800.481.7421.
Mr. Allen Robert ‘Bob’ Whitesell, beloved husband of Mrs. Alice Whitesell, passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Monday, May 13, 2019 at the age of 91 years. Bob was born in Rimbey, Alberta on September 3, 1927, the third son of Delbert and Olive Whitesell. He grew up on the family farm during the Thirties and WWII. He was seven years old when he started playing the mouth organ, “self taught”. All his life he loved to sing and passed it on to his children. He dated Alice McCulloch for five years, and then in 1953 he married her. The couple moved to the Peace Country, as he had taken a job as a Forest Officer. They moved to Manning, Alberta in May 1954, where he started work for Turner Bros. IHC. In 1956, he earned a Journeyman Partsman Ticket. They raised five children in Manning, and then moved to Red Deer, Alberta in 1973. In Red Deer he was a partsman, a carpenter, and finished his career in 1993, with Nova Chemicals, as a Warehouseman Tool Crib Attendant. He loved to play baseball, hockey and curl. While in Manning, he was on several Boards; as a Plumbing Inspector for low cost housing, a Volunteer Fireman, an Arena Board Member and an Officer in the Air Cadets. After moving to Red Deer, he was involved with the Legion, Red Deer Rock and Gem Club, and loved to watch the Red Deer Rebels. He enjoyed many weekends of Rockhounding, hunting and fishing. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling and loved family events. Bob loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He provided unfailing support for his family, friends and community. Bob will be lovingly remembered by his devoted wife of sixty-six years, Alice Whitesell; their children, Betty Campbell of Red Deer, Alberta; Rob (Wendell) Watson of Peace River, Alberta; Pat (Barry) Nilsson of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta; Lyn (Tom) Layton of Rimbey, Alberta; Rick (Barb) Whitesell of Red Deer, Alberta; thirteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. He will also be fondly remembered by his brother, John Whitesell of Sundre, Alberta, and his sister, Ruby Sakofsky of Red Deer, Alberta. Bob was predeceased by his parents, Delbert and Olive Whitesell, stepmother, Sadie Whitesell, a baby sister, Betty Jean, a sister-in-law, Louise Whitesell, brother, Harry and wife, Marion, brother, Charles and wife, Audrey, brother-in-law, Gordon Sakofsky, a nephew, Trevor Sakofsky, his in-laws, Robert and Elsie McColloch, Bob and June McCulloch, Chris Unger, and Glada Freeson. A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held at Parkland Funeral Home, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations in Bob’s honor may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.ca. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040 or 1.800.481.7421.