It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Brian Parnell, on July 4, 2025, at St Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, at the age of 72.
Bob is predeceased by his parents, Harold and Marie Parnell. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife Judy, son Ryan (Laura), two grandchildren Norah and Tristan, brother Doug, nephews Brian (Agnes), Jeff, Leanna (Greg), and so many other family and friends.
Bob was born on September 30, 1952, the second of two sons born to Harold and Marie in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In his early life, he excelled at athletics, particularly in cycling and speed skating. As a young man, Bob was a competitive speed skater and raced across Canada and Europe, becoming the Canadian Junior Speed skating Champion. His competitive and adventurous spirit attracted him to the aviation industry, and he left Winnipeg to fly bush planes in northern Canada.
After many years flying bush planes in the Arctic, Bob saw that Air Canada was hiring, so he trimmed his huge mustache, cut his long hair, and rushed down to Edmonton for the interview. Bob got the job, and it was time for a new adventure flying around the world. During his time with Air Canada Bob piloted various equipment and ended his career as Captain of the massive Boeing 777. Many of his Air Canada colleagues became lifelong friends.
It was while working at Air Canada on a layover in Edmonton that Bob first met a young flight attendant named Judy. It was the fall of 1984 and Bob knew he had met the person he wanted to share his adventures with. The two of them traveled extensively from the French Alps to the Yukon as they explored the world. They were married on May 24, 2003 at Pinewood Lodge in Whiteshell Provincial Park Manitoba.
If aviation was Bob’s first passion then second would be the lake – for him this meant Whiteshell. His grandfather had built a cabin on Dorothy Lake in the 1950s where Bob spent summers since childhood. This lifelong attraction led to owning cabins on Dorothy Lake Golden Acres Barrier Bay Nutimik Lake – ultimately leading up to Nutimik Lodge purchase during springtime back in ’05’. With wife Judy alongside him operating lodge ten years well known within community thereabouts continued living cabin after selling frequented campfires BBQs too missed dearly those whom shared stories solved world problems together raising rum Coke
The last years of Bob’s life were very difficult as he struggled with symptoms late-stage Parkinson’s Disease residing Kildonan Personal Care home Winnipeg touching hearts many staff quick wit good humor brief stay made close friends Kildonan missed deeply
There are plans for celebration life taking place family cabin Barrier Bay Whiteshell Provincial Park September 27th details forthcoming internment held close friends family following day Roseau River Community Cemetery
In lieu flowers donations can made memory Parkinson Canada https://www.parkinson.ca/get-involved/personal-giving/
Source link
Source link
