ROBERT GEORGE PLUMRIDGE, age 91, passed away peacefully at Pioneer Ridge Home for the Aged, on July 20, 2014, with family by his side. He lived a full and interesting life and will be sadly missed by all.

Bob is survived by his son Don (Aino), son John, daughter Karen and daughter Anne-Marie Cartwright (Terry), grandchildren Don, Michael (Candace), Ben (Yusel), Kathleen Healy (Billy), Amanda (Mike), Stefanie (Jay), Kristin, Tyler (Sara), Tessa, Thorin and Steven, along with 8 great grandchildren and niece Clara Duke. He was predeceased by his wife Lisa, son Martin, parents Louise and George Plumridge, brothers Ernest and Ted and an infant sister.

The youngest of three boys, Bob was born in Port Arthur on September 30, 1922 and developed his love of the outdoors at an early age. He attended Port Arthur Technical High School (Hillcrest) and left school to serve his country in World War 2. A member of Lord Strathcona’s Horse Armoured Regiment, he was a gunner in the military tank core.

After the war he drove an oil truck, worked at the shipyards and prospected in Northern Ontario before joining the Thunder Bay Fire Department in 1956. He retired as Captain of the Hodder Fire Station in 1982. Retirement meant he and Lisa spent their winters in Florida and summers at Clearwater Lake in Armstrong until failing health caused them to settle in Nipigon. Until his recent move to Pioneer Ridge, Bob spent the last 10 years of his life living with his son Don and daughter-in-law Aino and their family in Thunder Bay.

Bob’s passions in life were fishing and hunting and the outdoors in general. He enjoyed his numerous fly-in fishing and hunting trips until the age of 88. The fly-in moose hunts were generally family affairs with his sons and grandsons. In the 1980’s he even built and flew his own homebuilt ultralight aircraft. He coached youth hockey in the 50’s and 60’s and still liked watching a good game. Painting and photography were other hobbies he enjoyed.

A man of action, Bob was quick to respond in emergencies and received two citations, one for rescuing an OPP officer from a sinking boat in the middle of Waweig Lake, Armstrong in a raging storm and one for helping to save a neighbour in his Florida community.

Heartfelt thanks from all the family to the staff at Pioneer Ridge for their care and support and to Linda Bosch for her 5 years of weekly visits.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30th at Sargent and Son Funeral Home on 21 N. Court Street. A private family interment to follow in Nipigonat a later date. If friends so desire, donations (in lieu of flowers) may be made to the Nipigon Fire Department. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.

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