It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of very big hearted man.
Robert James Brown (Bob) February 12, 2020. He passed peacefully into the arms of his family at the age of 85.
Bob was born on October 04, 1934 in Pattulo, Ontario to John and Emma Brown, along with six other siblings. Here he farmed, cut pulp, and worked various other odd jobs over the years. He had a love of gardening, farming and playing music.
Bob and his brothers were always up to something, usually on the practical joke side of things. He was united in marriage to Nellie Barnes on July 06, 1973. They had two children together (Liana & Cheryl), and he became “Dad” to Nelly’s five previous children (Connie, Miles, Grant, Guy, & Harold). Bob and Nell moved around for a few years before settling in Devlin, ON. After the passing of his mother in 1971, Bob proceeded to build a home on the family’s original homestead in Stratton, ON, where he lived until his dementia was too bad for him to stay.
He enjoyed the farm life and was a cream shipper for many years, then after he raised a few beef cows.
He always had a joke or a story to tell. Bob had a nickname for everybody he encountered. Bob loved music and he played his harmonica across the district, including many shows with his band, the Clover Valley Echoes.
He was predeceased by his parents, John and Emma Brown, wife, Nellie, brothers and sisters John( Elsie) Brown, Henry (Edna) Brown, Mary (Hugh) Fifield, Lillian (Jack) Boldero, and Peggy (Phil) Bellamy, stepsons Harold Brown and Guy Simmons, and daughters in law Teresa Brown, Carmen Simmons, and son in law Ben Van Drunen.
He will be sorely missed by his brother Lawrence (Maxine Mason), children Connie Van Drunen, Miles Brown, Grant Simmons, Liana (Richard Byrnes), Cheryl (Bruce) Masson, daughter in law Lois Simmons, 17 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A service of celebration and remembrance will be held on Saturday February 22, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.- 1.p.m. at the Millennial Hall in Stratton, ON. Interment will take place in Stratton Cemetery at a later date.
If desired memorial donations may be made to Rainy River Hospital Auxillary, c/o Northridge Funeral Home, Box 89, Emo, ON P0W 1E0.