Robert ‘Bob’ Stephen Rock Kerpan 
December 14, 1940 – December 21, 2021

Robert ‘Bob’ Stephen Rock Kerpan was born in Kenaston, Saskatchewan in 1940 to parents Peter and Mary Kerpan. He moved to the community of Daphne in 1949, with his parents, his older sister Doreen and two younger brothers, Raymond, and Milton.

At the age of 16, he moved to Edmonton Alberta and lived with Uncle Johnny and soon found work in Drayton Valley on the pipelines and moved around as work demanded.    

He returned to Daphne to help his parents farm and purchased his first 1/4 section of land, and worked for the municipality of Spalding. He married Donna Mills in May of 1968 and moved to Allan, Saskatchewan where they started their family. He worked in the Allan Potash Mines and obtained his Saskatchewan ticket for Welding before moving his growing family back to Daphne. For 37 years, Bob farmed a variety of grains, raised cattle and hogs all while raising his children Craig, Liza, Lana, Michelle, and Mason. He enjoyed family vacations to various lakes in Saskatchewan, boating, ice fishing, hunting, social occasions and traveling to British Columbia when the kids were young. His love of animals was evident in everyday life, always teaching his kids how to ride horses, tend to and show cattle, hogs, chickens, dogs, and cats.     

Bob participated in the community and while in Daphne, he joined the Farmers Union, became Trustee for the Humboldt School District, was a Member of the Spalding Co-op Board and a founding member of the Christian Farm Crisis Group.     

Between the years of 1987- 2005 he worked at a variety of jobs off the farm. He started working in Fort St. John area and cleared lease lots for Oil Rigs. This led him to working in a variety of positions in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Alberta managing oil rigs, diamond drilling crews and consulting for drilling companies. He did all this while farming on a full-time basis and will be remembered as an extremely hard-working man, knowledgeable, and crafty, with an uncanny ability to solve any problems as they arose. His advice was sought out and respected by those he worked for off the farm and those on the farm.     

Bob retired in 2007 and moved to British Columbia to be closer to his children and their growing families. He supported each of his children and grandchildren in music, sports, college, university, and their careers. He always offered support, guidance, and wisdom all while respecting their individual choices ensuring they followed their hearts. He had a welcoming handshake, a hug, a kind word and always inquired about how you were, about your work, but more importantly, your family. He enjoyed carpentry and spent countless hours in the shop building small furniture, sleighs, birdhouses, doll houses, rocking horses and baby cradles for his children and grandchildren. 

Bob loved hunting, fishing, and camping with his friends and family. Fishing trips included Prince Rupert, Hawaii, Saskatchewan, and Fort St John. Some of his most enjoyable and memorable moments were on the water. He thoroughly enjoyed catching large pike with his brother-in-law Greg Mills, on Echo Lake. He also loved the time spent with his sons, grandsons and son’s in law, catching Salmon off the coast of Prince Rupert and the numerous fishing trips in the local Fort St John area. Bob enjoyed travelling, driving, and exploring. He travelled to Alaska, Florida, Utah, North and South Dakota and Hawaii, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. He also traveled throughout Canada, to the west coast islands of British Columbia and to the east coast island of Newfoundland, visiting family and making memories.     

In his life, Bob made friends easily, with his infectious laugh, his generosity, kindness, and his ability to tell a good story or joke. He was always willing to lend a helping hand or to volunteer his time to family, friends, or a worthy cause. His friends in Saskatchewan and in Fort St John were always up for a good laugh or a story on Coffee Row and even though his Parkinson’s progressed, he continued to stay connected with family and friends with phone calls, FaceTime, visits, and coffee. Bob led a life, full of laughter, family, and friends.    

His wife of 53 years, his children and grandchildren will always remember his endearing love for them and how he’d always leave you with a loving smile, a warm hug and a sincere ‘I love you’. 

’Til we meet again.     

Bob is survived by his wife Donna and his five children: Craig (Krista), Reece (Hunter) and Alayna. Liza (Mike Derouin) Daimon (Jenna; children, Eastyn, Rhetly, Hayes), Lauranda, and Dylan. Lana (Dwayne Taylor) Amanda (Patrick Law; Sofia, Declan, Nixon), Cole, Justin (Brittany) and Kate (AJ Hampel; Remi). Michelle (Michael Peace) Mya, Sydney, Luciana, Taylor and Jesse. Mason (Kellie) Jaxon. Robert was predeceased by his parents Peter and Mary Kerpan, sister-in-Law Valerie Kerpan, brother Milton Kerpan, father-in-law Arthur Hubert Mills, brother-in-law Grant Mills and sister-in-law Diane Dosselman.    

A Private Family Graveside Service for Bob was held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery, Watson, celebrated by Fr. Francis Akomeah. A Celebration of Life Tea was held on Saturday, July 16, 2022 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at New Horizons Senior Center, Watson. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in memory of Bob can be directed to the Parkinson’s Society of BC. 

This notice placed courtesy of
Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium
Phone: 682-1622