Robert (Bob) William Stanich

With great sadness but also great hope and joy, we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) William Stanich, our loving and faithful husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend to all he met. Bob will be greatly missed, but he now goes to dwell with his heavenly Father, finally free from the suffering of his later years.

Bob was born in Spirit River Hospital in Peace River Country on January 3, 1935, to Peter and Paulina Stanich, the 6th of their 8 natural children. His family persevered through the adversity of the “Dirty Thirties” by always working together and helping one another. He left home to attend St. Joseph’s College at the University of Alberta, graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1957. He began his work career with the ERCB, and was assigned to work in Stettler, Alberta.

In the summer of 1957, at a wiener roast on the shores of Buffalo Lake, he met Leila, whom he chased for several years until she “let him catch her,” and they were married at Christ-King Church in Stettler on October 8, 1960. In 1963, they built their first home on Baker Crescent in Calgary. In 1964, Bob and Leila were founding members of St. Luke’s Parish. After finishing his work at the ERCB, Bob took a job with Canadian Superior Oil, where he eventually became the company’s global manager for heavy oil. His work resulted in travel to Thailand, England, Denver, and the United Arab Emirates. He also loved to travel with Leila, and together they had trips to China and Europe, 2 trips to his family’s homeland of Croatia, as well as a Mediterranean cruise. Most of all, though, Bob enjoyed many family trips to Peace River Country and to the Okanagan to visit family.

Returning to the place they met, Bob and Leila built a lakefront cabin at Buffalo Lake with their best friends, George and Pam Byrtus, starting construction in 1977. Both families spent every summer weekend together for many years. In 1984, Bob and Leila moved to their current home on Confederation Park in Calgary. When Bob retired in 1990, he loved to spend his days working in the garden, cooking burgers on the barbecue, and watching his beloved Maple Leafs, Oilers and the "Esks". Bob loved to be physically active and to be involved in the community. He curled at the Maverick Club for 30 years; spent many years as a youth baseball and soccer coach; volunteered for Parks Calgary; was a member of the Knights of Columbus; and was very involved in the St. Luke’s and Canadian Martyrs Church communities.

Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1990. Although he remained active for many years, he finally moved into Long Term Care in November, 2017. In his final days, he was transferred to Palliative Care at the Foothills Medical Centre, where after 3 months of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bob was finally reunited with his beloved wife and family. They were constantly by his side until his peaceful passing on Father’s Day, June 21, 2020, in the 60th year of his marriage to Leila. Bob is survived by his wife, Leila; his brothers, Steve and Charlie; his sons, Warren (Melonie), Roland, and Murray (Simone); 10 grandchildren; and countless nieces and nephews.

He will be interred at the Old Mission Cemetery in Spirit River on July 3, 2020.

In lieu of flowers, his memorial donations can be made to Canadian Martyrs Parish (https://canadianmartyrsparish.ca/).

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