Obituary of Robert Forster Watson

Bob passed away peacefully with family by his side on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at the age of 96 of congestive heart failure. He was born in Eastend, Saskatchewan on March 21, 1925, to Elizabeth (Routledge) Watson and Robert Ferguson Watson.

Bob spent his early years in Eastend before moving to Regina in 1929. He graduated from Kitchener Elementary School and Scott Collegiate in Regina, where he lettered in basketball and softball. He joined the Navy when he was 18, proud to contribute to the WWII effort. He crossed the Atlantic several times on the convoy escort HMCS Wetaskiwin, spending time in ports of call in New York, Newfoundland and the British Isles. Tuberculosis landed the young sailor at the Fort San Sanatorium for a two-year recuperation period. While this time confined to a bed was difficult for the 20 year old, Bob recalls this era with fondness for having met many soldiers from all over western Canada and perfecting his cribbage game.

After being released from Fort San, Bob took a business course in accounting and started working for Canadian Propane. That’s where a light-haired gal with Hollywood looks caught his eye, but what captured his heart was Jean Jancsek’s kindness, lively nature and giving heart. The two were married and, a few years later, chose 7 Bond Crescent to be the place where they would put down roots of their family tree.

For the next 61 years, 7 Bond Crescent is where Bob and Jean raised their four children, made life-long friends, hosted countless celebrations, sleepovers with grandchildren, dance parties, showers, bar-b-ques, holiday gatherings and experienced plain old life events together. It was the place where they helped their children recognize their own individual talents and set them on roads that allowed Karen, Leslie, Brad and Craig to be successful in their personal and professional lives.

During his career, Bob and a few partners founded ReGas, whose specialty was delivering propane to rural properties. The partners later sold the company to Prairie Gas. Bob stayed on, ensuring the success of the larger company. His keen aptitude for numbers made him an excellent office manager and bookkeeper for Prairie Gas.

After he retired in 1988, he continued tinkering with numbers. He enjoyed keeping track of any kind of statistics, like stock prices, hockey player stats, even his blood-pressure trends. His competitive nature made for rousing games of crib and cards. He also took pleasure in challenging (or some may say “harassing”) his charter-accountant granddaughter-in-law or anyone else up to the challenge with math problems without using a calculator. He had an unbelievable head for numbers and a crazy cross-multiplication formula that he learned from his father that allowed him to calculate figures faster than a person could plug numbers into a calculator.  In his retirement he also took up painting and was a natural at it.  Those paintings are proudly displayed in his friends and children’s homes.

Bob strongly believed in giving back to his community and was a steadfast volunteer in Regina.  He supported the Regina Youth Boys Community Hockey League, working closely with Jerry Tell, Les Barret and Fred Howard, to name a few. He also gave his time by going door-to-door collecting census information, manning election polling stations, canvassing for heart and stroke, cancer, diabetes and providing pro-bono accounting services to St. Phillips Church for many years.

Bob loved everything to do with sports and physical fitness. In his youth and young adulthood, he liked to play basketball, softball, hockey and enjoyed bowling, badminton and running through Wascana Park in later years. He followed professional hockey, curling, boxing, tennis, and golf. His love of sports also included watching (and sometimes wincing at) the athletic escapades of his grandchildren. Whether great or small, Bob supported them all.

Second only to family and friends was Bob’s passion for golf. It was a sport that kept him active and challenged throughout his life. He enjoyed sharing it with family and friends, especially Ron Hayes, George Fox, Ken MacDonald, Harry Selinger and Les Matravolgyi. Bob said he was very fortunate to play some of the greatest courses in North America, like Pebble Beach and Torre Pines in California and Kananaskis in Alberta. His favorite, however, was the course at Waskesiu where he played in several Lobstick Tournaments. Even in his last few months, Bob spoke about getting back out on the course to try a new putting technique that would surely knock a few strokes off his game.

Bob was a great and humble person. He was a wonderful husband and father, grandfather, son-in-law, son, brother, father-in-law and friend. He was always willing to lend a hand and offer advice, support and encouragement. He would do anything in his power for anyone at any time. He never had a bad word to say about anyone, except maybe the Democrats. Those who were lucky enough to have known him will feel the void of his absence. May that void be filled with wonderful memories of a compassionate man.

Bob was predeceased by his loving wife of 55 years, Jean; his parents, Elizabeth and Robert Ferguson Watson; brothers, John and Stuart Watson; sister, Jean McIroy and great-granddaughter Claire Fink. He is survived by his children: Karen Conly (Don) of Regina; Leslie Relke (Dave) of Calgary; Brad Watson (Amy) of Denver, and Craig Watson (Angela) of Regina. He also leaves his grandchildren: Joshua Fink (Shannon) and Michael Fink (Diana) of Regina; Russ Conly (Laura) of Kamloops; Erica Conly (Sean Procyk) of Hamilton; Nathan Relke (Beth) and Cameron Relke (Caitlyn) of Calgary; Reid and Genabeth Watson of Denver, and Hayley Watson of Regina. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Cayden Cheung, Sophia Fink, Benjamin and Noah Fink of Regina and Vigo Conly Procyk of Hamilton. Bob also leaves lifelong friends who are honorary family members: Ron and Lois Hayes of San Jose; Wilbur Heinrich; Margaret “Mugs” Fox; Arlene Moncton; Delores Wappel; Adele Houston; Charlie and Maggie Cox, and Nick and June Kaufman, all of Regina.

Bob spent his last two and a half months living at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre Veteran’s Unit under the compassionate and wonderful care of the medical and support staff who, in a very short time, learned to appreciate every conversation with Bob. The family is heartfully grateful.

Friends so wishing may make donations, in memoriam, to KidSport Regina, 1870 Lorne Street, Regina, SK., S4P 2L7.