Robert John Shank

Robert John Shank was born in June 1931 to Eli and Berna Shank of Markham, Ontario. Bob was the youngest of 6 children - Albert, Margaret, Oscar, Ruby now 102 years old, and Mary. He enjoyed growing up in Markham and had many fond stories of his adventures. He learned carpentry from an older cousin, skills which he used throughout his lifetime. He was deeply impacted by WWII as both his brothers saw action in Europe and Albert was killed in a plane mishap in England. Bob did well at school, graduating from Markham High School. With encouragement and support from his sisters Margaret and Ruby, Bob went to Queen’s University for a BSc in Mining Engineering. During his summers he worked in the Yukon and fell under the magical spell of of the north. Through a high school friend, Bob met Luella Carson who was attending U of T. Upon graduation in 1953, Bob went to work for INCO in Sudbury.

Bob and Luella were married in June 1954 at Mount Zion United Church in Pickering, Ontario just down the road from the Luella’s family farm. They moved to Levack, Ontario in the Sudbury area where Jeffrey was born in 1956 and then Jennifer in 1959. The call of the north was strong for Bob and, when Luella agreed to the adventure, they moved to Elsa, Yukon in August of 1959. Elsa was a small mining community on the side of a mountain in the middle of the Yukon and they lived in a company-owned pan abode (log) house, heated with air from the mine shaft. They lived there for 5 years during which time Andrew was born in 1961. At that time, the mine was the fourth largest-producing silver mine in the world and Bob was excited and proud to have been part of solving a theft of silver ore from the mine.

In 1964 Bob’s career brought them back east as they moved to Toronto, where they were close to family and Catherine was born in 1965. A year later they moved to La Ronge, Saskatchewan for two years. In 1968, Bob took a job with the federal government at Energy, Mines and Resources in Ottawa where he began as a mineral policy analyst, ultimately retiring as a director. They bought their first and only owned-house, settling in the newly developing community of Kanata. 

As his children grew, Bob became active in numerous community activities. When his children were young he was part of the Kanata Minor Hockey Association where he refereed, coached and timed hockey games and he umpired softball games in the summer. He was an avid bridge player belonging to several bridge clubs and when he retired he curled at Richmond Curling Club in senior day curling, recruiting numerous fellow retirees to curl there as well. He and Luella were long-time subscribers to plays at the Kanata Theatre and the National Arts Centre. He developed a deep interest in his family genealogy tracing his lineage back to their roots in Germany and he was involved with the Markham Berczy Settlers Association. After he retired, Bob became interested in helping out in the kitchen, making bread and trying out a variety of dishes. For many years his specialty was cooking Beef Wellington on New Year’s Day.

Bob traveled extensively in his life both within Canada and around the world. His work for the federal government took him to many places he might not normally have gone. With Luella, doing their genealogy research and ‘tombstoning’, they visited places and people throughout Canada, US and Great Britain and there were many other trips for pleasure and interest. They were proud to say they had gone, at least once, to all seven of the world’s continents.

In the early 1970s, Bob and Luella bought a cottage property on a large island on Sand Lake. Having had the shell of a cottage built, Bob put his carpentry knowledge and skills to good use in finishing the interior and exterior of the cottage and boathouse. They spent many enjoyable years at their cottage.

Although Bob was born into a Mennonite family, he joined the United Church of Canada upon marrying Luella and they were long-standing members of the Kanata United Church. For many years Bob and Luella were actively involved in the church-based Marriage Encounter organization. Heartfelt thanks to Rev. Cindy Casey and the KUC community for their kindness, comfort and support through the years. 

The family would also like to express their deep appreciation to the staff and residents of the Chartwell Empress Retirement Residence and the kind and caring ER staff at the Ottawa General Hospital