JUNE 16, 2012
Bob was born on June 2, 1938, at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the second child to Philip and Anne Pfeifer (nee Poier), and younger brother to Norman. This was a hard working farming family with one day off a week for music, which Bob continued to enjoy and played the guitar up to a week before his untimely passing with brother Norman on mandolin and sister Myrna humming in the background.
There were always chores to do around the farm and entertainment sometimes included riding a pig. Getting to the one room elementary school meant taking a horse and buggy and remembering to feed the horse at recess. The family moved to Surrey Centre, B.C., in 1946 and he attended Surrey Centre Elementary and Lord Tweedsmuir High School. Bob was a natural athlete excelling in gymnastics, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, scuba diving and golf.
Bob travelled the province working a variety of jobs from the Highways department, life insurance salesman, boat and float home designer/builder, barber, commercial fisherman and many happy days spent beachcombing on the Fraser River. He packed up and moved to Grand Forks on January 28, 1983. He lived at the Pinegrove Motel briefly and opened a barbershop located across from the Overwaitea parking lot where he met Linda Pearce who became his life partner for 27 years. Bob moved his shop to 72nd Avenue where he welcomed old friends and new, shared his philosophy of life, listened empathetically, swapped stories, lies and jokes plus gave great haircuts until he closed up shop at the age of 72 in 2011.
Bob was involved with the Gyro club, Christina Lake Golf course and was an active curler for many years. He never gave up on the Canucks (Canuckle Heads) and was a great supporter of the Grand Forks International baseball tournament.
Bob was loved for his generous spirit and spontaneous nature. He loved animals and he and Linda raised many litters of puppies. Bob was always willing to lend a hand or give a handout. He was a hard worker and loved cutting grass on his riverfront property at Manly Meadows although it was a love/hate relationship through the years. Bob was so happy on his tractor “Casey”!
Bob is survived by Linda Pearce and her girls, Kelly and Katie; four children: Shelly Siwak (Lou), Jody Pfeifer (Hugh), Tammy Saunders and Jeff Pfeifer (Tammy); his mother, Anne Busby; brother, Norm (Sue); sister, Myrna (Doug) and their son Logan; grandchildren: Leanne (Max), Matthew, Ryan, Brittany and Josh; great-grandchildren, Jake and Aubree; many nieces and nephews who will miss their “Unca’ Bob”, and last but not least, his “Six-Pack”: Bogey, Brook, Birdie, Noelle, Holly and Zeus; and two loving cats, Frankie and Joey.
He will be missed greatly, not only by his family, but by his very close friends (you all know who you are as there are too many to name).
Thanks to the wonderful care Bob received from his doctor and the nurses at Boundary Hospital. Grand Forks Funeral Home had care of arrangements.