Obituary of Robert Kerpan

Obituary Robert Stephen Rock Kerpan December 14, 1940 – December 21, 2021 It is with great sadness that family of Robert “Bob” Kerpan announces his passing December 21, 2021 at Peace Villa Fort St John, BC. Robert Stephen Kerpan was born December 14, 1940 on the family farm in Kenaston, Saskatchewan to Peter and Mary Kerpan. In 1949, Peter and Mary moved their four children to the farming community of Daphne near Watson Saskatchewan. Robert attended the Rosebush School and helped with the family farm until his teens when he moved away to work construction in the growing oil and gas areas of Drayton Valley and Edmonton, Alberta. Eventually Robert completed his welding ticket and worked at the potash mine in Allan, Sask. Robert married Donna Mills on May 4, 1968 and soon moved his growing family back to Watson to work the family farm. Together they raised five children Craig, Liza, Lana, Michelle and Mason. Along with instilling a good work ethic, Robert made sure the children enjoyed their years on the farm with many adventures from camping, fishing, boating, hunting, to riding horses, music, bonfires and wild skidoo rides. Family and farming were his passions. Robert learned early the satisfaction of working the land raising crops and animals all in support of his family. Never afraid of hard work, he supported those passions working many winters off the farm driving truck, welding and running rigs in northern Alberta, BC and North West Territories. Instilled with a strong sense of community, Bob dedicated any extra time to the National Farmer’s Union, as a Trustee of the District School Board pushing for a trades program for the high schools and a member of the Christian Farm Crisis Group to help other farmers through the farming crisis in Saskatchewan through the 90’s. Throughout the years, his children settled in the northern BC community of Fort St John to work and start families of their own. Naturally, Bob and Donna retired near their children selling the family farm and moving to Fort St John. Surrounded by his growing family of grandchildren again, family dinners were planned along with fishing and camping adventures and attending the many activities of his grandkids. In his retirement, Bob took up woodworking and built small pieces of furniture, from tables to cradles, rocking horses to toys and numerous barn board birdhouses for family and friends. Bob and Donna were also able to do some travelling exploring Canada from coast to coast, attended weddings in the Mayan Riviera, Key West, Florida and the Okanagan, BC. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary with a family trip to the Dominican Republic and had many adventures driving throughout the northern United States. Enjoying life, family and friends was a priority for Bob, He was always good for an entertaining story, a bit of advice or a comforting hug. Many of his nieces and nephews can attest to his hilarious stories and will affectionately remember Uncle Bob. Robert will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years Donna and their five children Craig and Krista Kerpan, Reece and Hunter, Alayna of Fort St John; Liza and Mike Derouin, Daimon and Jenna (Eastyn, Rhetly, Hayes), Lauranda, Dylan of Fort St John; Lana and Dwayne Taylor, Amanda and Patrick (Sofia, Declan, Nixon), Cole, Justin and Brittany, Kate and AJ (Remi) of Fort St John; Michelle Kerpan and Michael Peace, Mya, Sydney of Kamloops, BC; Mason and Kellie Kerpan, Jaxon of Badger Newfoundland. 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. Graveside service will be held at a later date. For those wishing to make a donation in memory of Bob can do so in lieu of flowers to the Parkinson’s Society of BC. Services