Robert "Bob" Brownridge

Today we lost a good man. After a valiant battle with cancer, Bob passed away at the age of 65 on the morning of August 11th. He left us peacefully, with his loving wife at his side.

Born in Portage, Bob started school in the one-room schoolhouse of East Prospect Elementary, and finished at Portage Collegiate where he made lifelong friendships that he cherished until the end.

Predeceased by his father Irvin and sister Susan, he leaves his mother Ellen (101 years old), his wife Ruth, sons Kurt (Erin), Doug (Chelsea), and a beloved family of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Bob met Ruth when he was working for Inter-City Gas in Steinbach. In 1972 Bob returned to the farm to work with his father and Uncle Don, and four years after that he married Ruth in the spring of 1976. When Irvin and Don retired, Bob took over the farm and partnered with Bud Wishart. Over the years he always took pride in keeping the farm and machinery in good running order, and was never afraid to get out the arc-welder to fabricate a solution when he needed to. When Bud retired Bob & Ruth continued to farm, and by the time they themselves retired, the farm had been in the family for over one hundred years. He loved the land and kept it well.

Bob and Ruth lived life to the fullest, and never wasted a minute. They made friends wherever they went, from their winter place in Arizona, to the cottage at Pelican Lake. Bob was a Kinsmen member, loved camping, curling and golf. He was a NASCAR fan, taking his family to several races over the years, and felt right at home with his friends in the Portage Vintage Cruisers car club.

He enjoyed living vicariously through his son’s adventures, and was always eager to tell everyone what they were up to. He was so proud of his boys, and loved his wife.

He was something special, and we will miss him dearly.

We would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff for all the loving care they have given to Bob these past months.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at the William Glesby Center at 2:00 pm. A private family burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Vintage Cruisers Car Club, where a bursary will be awarded to a PCI student pursuing Auto Mechanics. Cheques can be made out to "Vintage Cruisers Car Club", 431 Caledonia St., Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3S8.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. 204-857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com