Obituary of Robert 'Bob" Gordon Allen

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Robert Gordon Allen on Sunday, September 12, at the age of 70 years. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 46 years, Diane; his children Joshua (Nadine), Emily (Jason) and Rose; his grandchildren Jackson Atati, Augustus, Amira and Julius; his siblings Aaron (Douglas), Cynthia (Norman), Jennifer (Kim) and Suzy; as well as numerous family members, friends and his dog Stella. Bob was predeceased by his parents Gordon and Corinne; his brother Boyd; his sister-in-law Tereza, his brother-in-law Ross and his nephew Dana. Born in New Brunswick, Bob raised his family in Ontario before moving to Nova Scotia. Everywhere he went, Bob always was the helper. He was a dedicated family man who always had time for both his own and his extended family. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren as they have grown. He enjoyed being in the kitchen cooking, his famous big breakfasts in particular. He always kept an immaculate kitchen. It was a point of pride for him to maintain his cast iron pans and keep his extensive knife collection sharp, a passion which he has passed down to his children. Bob had very eclectic interests. He loved games of all sorts, especially card games, which he was always eager to teach to new players. Anyone who played with him got to know the signature ruthless playing style of the Allens. He always looked forward to his annual card playing weekends with his close friends. He loved the game of curling, both playing and watching it being played. Watching car racing was another of Bob’s passions; more fun was had playing racing video games with his son and his grandchildren. Bob was a huge fan of movies. He had an extensive range of movie trivia knowledge so that in any trivia event you wanted Bob on your team! Westerns held a special place in his heart. He was also an avid reader who read all sorts of fiction and non-fiction to expand his interests and knowledge. Bob was interested in world events, and was open minded and willing to learn and grow with the times. He had a passion for motorcycles, and was still looking at bikes in his final months, imagining the perfect ride. Bob served the community his whole life in a variety of ways, including his various careers. Whether a waiter, social worker, brewery worker, maintenance manager or bus driver, he took pride in serving the public and always made a lasting and positive impression. His social work skills served him well behind the wheel of a bus, and he was an excellent driver. Bob was a tirelessly hard worker, and an incredible example to those who met him. His work at Lazy Bear Brewery in his later years was perhaps his favourite of all, combining a love of beer with his home brewing knowledge into the perfect pre-retirement gig. The family would like to thank the palliative care team, Annapolis Collaborative Care Practice, the Annapolis Community Health Clinic, the Annapolis Family Practice, VON, and all of the attending health care professionals for the support, kindness and care they provided Bob. A special thank you to Emily and her family, Rose, Josh and his wife Nadine who provided loving and generous help and support for Bob and Diane throughout Bob's illness. Thank you also to Bob's brother Aaron who came to Nova Scotia for an extended stay to help care for the family. The family is grateful for all the support and kindness from loved ones during this journey. Bob’s funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 11 o’clock at Trinity Anglican Church in Digby, with Covid protocols in place. Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will be no reception, interment to follow immediately in Forest Hills Cemetery, Digby. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Kaulbach Family Funeral Home, Annapolis Royal. Family flowers only. Donations may be sent to the Good Bones Dog Rescue through their website www.goodbonesdogrescue.com. Online condolences may be made at www.kaulbachfamilyfuneralhome.com