ROBERT EUGENE (BOB) SPONAGLE

October 9, 1933 - December 13, 2019

Funeral Details: CREMATION HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AND INTERNMENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE SPRING WITH FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS

ROBERT EUGENE (BOB) SPONAGLE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON DECEMBER 13, 2019 AT THE ROYAL VICTORIA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE (RVH) IN BARRIE, ONTARIO AT 86 YEARS OF AGE.

 

BOB WAS BORN ON OCTOBER 9, 1933, THE SECOND SON OF THE LATE WILLIAM OWEN SPONAGLE AND THE LATE HELEN FLORENCE (COX) SPONAGLE OF AVONPORT, KINGS COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA.  HE GREW UP ON THE FAMILY FARM IN AVONPORT TENDING TO DAIRY CATTLE, ORCHARDS AND HIS OWN BEEHIVES AND PLAYING SHINNY HOCKEY WITH HIS BROTHERS AND FRIENDS.  AFTER COMPLETING ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL, BOB ATTENDED NOVA SCOTIA AGRICULTURE COLLEGE AND THEN MACDONALD COLLEGE AT MCGILL UNIVERSITY GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE IN 1955.  AFTER GRADUATION, HE BEGAN WORK WITH AGRICULTURE CANADA, FIRST IN MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK AND THEN MOVING TO BARRIE, ONTARIO IN 1961.  LATER THAT YEAR, BOB MET MARGARET (MEG) SAMSEL WHO BECAME HIS WIFE ON APRIL 21, 1962.  BOB LIVED IN BARRIE UNTIL 1967 WHEN HE AND MEG PURCHASED A FARM IN IVY, ONTARIO.  HE RAISED CHAROLAIS CATTLE ON THE FARM AND OVER THE YEARS DEVELOPED ONE OF THE FIRST PUREBRED CHAROLAIS HERDS IN ONTARIO.  BOB ALSO CONTINUED TO WORK WITH AGRICULTURE CANADA RELOCATING IN 1969 TO TORONTO, ONTARIO AND COMMUTING DAILY UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 1988 WITH MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.  HE CONTINUED TO FARM FOR MANY YEARS AFTER THAT SELLING OFF HIS LIVESTOCK IN 2007.  BOB WAS A DEDICATED HUSBAND AND FATHER AND WORKED HARD FOR HIS FAMILY.  HE LOVED TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS CHILDREN, PLAYING BASEBALL AND SWIMMING IN THE FAMILY POOL IN THE SUMMER AND COACHING OR WATCHING HOCKEY AT THE ARENA IN THE WINTER.  HE ALSO LIKED A GOOD CARD GAME AND TAUGHT HIS CHILDREN AS THEY GOT A LITTLE OLDER HOW TO PLAY EUCHRE AND CRIBBAGE SO THAT HE ALWAYS HAD OPPONENTS.  BOB WAS IMMENSELY PROUD OF ALL OF HIS CHILDREN AND, LATER ON, HIS GRANDCHILDREN.

 

BOB IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, MEG, AND HIS SEVEN CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES – HEATHER (GEOFF) AND ABBY; OWEN (MELANIE) AND MIKAYLA, BAILEY, SHANELLE AND KIRSTEN; IAN (CLO) AND ELLA AND CHARLIE; PETER (SARA) AND ZOE, DEVON AND KEIRA; ANN; KIM (WARREN) AND SAM AND LYLE; KATE (KRISTIAN).   BOB IS ALSO SURVIVED BY ALL OF HIS BROTHERS – ROLAND, GLEN, MERVIN, GAYE AND ALAN AS WELL AS MANY NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND EXTENDED FAMILY.

 

CREMATION HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AND INTERNMENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE SPRING WITH FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS.  BOB’S FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE DOCTORS AND NURSES AT THE RVH RESPIRATORY INPATIENT UNIT AND PALLIATIVE INPATIENT UNIT FOR THEIR CARE AND COMPASSION DURING HIS FINAL DAYS.  DONATIONS IN BOB’S MEMORY MAY BE MADE TO THESE UNITS AT THE RVH OR TO THE GENERAL RVH FOUNDATION.

CONDOLENCES

6 Condolences
  • Ruth Boughan (Soucoup)
    Posted on: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Reply

    Meg and family,
    So sorry to hear of cousin Bob’s passing. I haven’t seen him in years but remember him with fondness when I used to visit the Avonport farm as a child. I also visited you in Barrie once though when exactly I don’t remember. (maybe early 70’s?) May God grant you peace and joy as you spend time remembering the good times together.
    Blessings to the family,
    Ruth Boughan (Soucoup)

  • Harley Edward Sponagle
    Posted on: Thursday, January 16, 2020 Reply

    I didn’t no Bob very well but the obituary tells a lot about who he was and how the Sponagle clan have similar characteristics. My deepest condolences to the family and hope that Bob’s legacy will carry on in all your endeavours.
    All our Love Harley & Linda S Sponagle

  • Dwight. sponagle
    Posted on: Thursday, January 16, 2020 Reply

    To the family.
    So sorry to read of your fathers passing.
    Sincerely . Dwight Bonnie Sponagle
    Fall River .Halifax N.S.

  • Lewis Sponagle
    Posted on: Thursday, January 16, 2020 Reply

    Wasn’t it only yesterday that we trudged out on the salt flats at low tide, to bring in the marsh hay, forking it up – up away over our heads onto the hay wagon, with some invariably falling back to cut and salt our sweaty bodies, all the while swatting at the buzzing green-head horseflies, then riding back to the barn on top of the loaded hay-wagon, to sink the big, pulley operated, iron hay fork deep into the load and lift it up into the barn loft . . .

    Bob, with his quick laugh and easy manner, taught his American cousins a lot, back in the 40s, and we loved sharing stories of our summer adventures with our Canadian Cousins.

    Godspeed, Cousin Bob.

    Hope and pray we meet again…

  • Joan & Myron Sponagle
    Posted on: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Reply

    Feb. 11/20 Sorry to just hear of Bob’s passing. We last saw him at Dad’s (Mark’s) visitation several years ago. Had a good visit at that time. Would like to come to his internment in the spring if we are notified.

    Joan & Myron Sponagle

  • Elaine (Sponagle) & Duncan Hutchison
    Posted on: Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Reply

    2020-Feb-12
    Meg & Family: Unfortunately, we just received this sad news! So sorry to hear that Bob passed away before Christmas! He was a wonderful man! Our Condolences!
    Love Elaine and Duncan

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