DIPROSE
Robert “Bob”
Robert Diprose, known as Bob to most, passed away on November 20, 2015 in Stettler at the age of 89 years. Bob was born on July 3, 1926 in Drumheller. He was the fifth of six children born to Fred and Rose Diprose. He was raised on the family farm in the Verdant Valley district, between Drumheller and the Hand Hills. He received his education at Verdant Valley and Drumheller. Bob enjoyed growing up with four brothers: Fred Jr., Bill, Ken and Harold (or Buddy as he was known by the family) and one sister Peggy. On June 23, 1948 Bob married the love of his life, Dorothy Louise Wallace of Delia. They would become life long partners for the next 67 years. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Terry in 1950, Don in 1953 and Rosemary in 1955. He and Dorothy farmed and raised their family in the Verdant Valley district with many happy memories of those years. The farm was sold in 1972 and Bob and Dorothy, Don and Rosemary moved to a new farm, the Snell place east of Botha. It opened a new chapter of their lives and they soon met new neighbours and friends. Bob had a love for the land and was a farmer at heart always. His crops were bountiful and he enjoyed his horses and cattle. Even after Bob and Dorothy sold the farm at Botha in 1996, Bob couldn’t seem to get farming out of his blood. He did seasonal work for Mike Nichols on his farm near Erskine for a few years after. Bob and Dorothy retired and purchased a home in Stettler in 1996. Again they made new friends and acquired new neighbours, but never lost contact with old friends and neighbours made in the last two communities they lived in. They were especially lucky to have such wonderful neighbours at Verdant Valley, Botha and Stettler. Bob had a passion for horses. Horses always had a special place in his heart and he spent as much time as he could with them; riding at the farm, going on trail rides, riding in parades, raising colts and breaking them to ride, training some to pull a sleigh and just caring for them in general. Family was important to Bob and he liked nothing better than being surrounded by family - immediate and extended. Bob’s life was richly filled to the brim with his many interests. Bob was a long-time school bus driver. He was very sports minded and enjoyed ice curling, playing ball, floor curling and bowling and in his younger years participated in rodeo events at the Hand Hills Stampede. His love of sports has been passed down to the next generations. He also enjoyed playing cards, old-time dances, yodeling, country and western music and making things with his hands. Some of these projects included woodworking, leather and bead work, plastic canvas projects and making slippers for everyone in the family and others too. Many of his plywood silhouette creations adorn the yards of family and friends. Good health for most of his life allowed Bob to enjoy many activities well into advanced years, including playing senior slo-pitch and being on the team that captured a provincial title. Bob will be remembered for his quiet ways, kind heart and being sentimental. He enjoyed the simple things in life and was one who felt more comfortable being in the background than the foreground. Bob was predeceased by his parents Fred and Rose Diprose, all his brothers: Harold, Fred, Bill and Ken Diprose and his only sister Peggy Schrock; also by brothers-in-law Fred Schrock, Bert, Dean and Les Wallace and sisters-in-law Dot and Blanche Diprose and Margaret Chambers and nephews Fred Schrock Jr. and Ron Wallace. Mourning Bob’s passing are his loving wife of 67 years, Dorothy of Stettler; his sons Terry (Diane) Diprose, Red Deer and Don Diprose, Sherwood Park; his daughter Rosemary (Les) Stulberg, Endiang; his grandsons Brad (Louanne) Diprose, Michael (Jessie) Diprose, Mark Diprose, all of Edmonton, Travis Stulberg, Tyler Stulberg (Samantha) all of Stettler; great-grandsons Caleb and Kiefer Diprose and great-granddaughter Evie Diprose, all of Edmonton. He is also survived by four sisters-in-law: Lucie Diprose, St. Albert, Mary Wallace, Drumheller, Lois Wallace, Vancouver and Dolline Good, Calgary, as well as many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. A memorial service was held for Bob on November 28, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Heartland Chapel of the Stettler Funeral Home with Rev. Jack Schulze officiating. The service followed a private family interment in the morning at the Lakeview Cemetery, Stettler. Donations in memory of Bob are gratefully accepted to S.T.A.R.S or the charity of the donor’s choice c/o Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium, Box 1780, Stettler, Alberta T0C 2L0, who were entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements, 403-742-3422. To send or view condolences to the family, please visit www.stettlerfuneralhome.com
