Mr. Eugene Ross Lobe

Gene Lobe of High River, Alberta (recently of Calgary) passed away peacefully at the Southwood Hospice on July 8, 2023. Gene leaves to mourn his son Ivan (Logan Demerais), daughters Rachel (Andrew Moore) and Hilary (Erin Welte), as well as his beloved granddaughters; Julia, Madeleine, Elizabeth, Josephine, and Helena. Gene was predeceased by his loving wife Betty (2016), his father Albert Lobe (1980), his mother Anne Lobe (1998), his sisters-in-law Joan Lobe (2022) and Jackie Coulter (2009), and brother-in-law Gene Coulter (2021). He is survived by his siblings; Vern Lobe, Donna Driedger (Irvin), Bert Lobe (Martha), and Gord Lobe (Pat). He is also survived by Betty’s family; Bonny Hamm (Jake), Louise Coulter-Chomlak (Rick), Calvin Coulter (Jane), and Deb Poulin. He will be missed by nieces and nephews, and his circle of friends and colleagues. Dad was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, on August 21, 1940 to Albert and Anne Lobe. He grew up in the Osler area, a farming community just North of Saskatoon. Dad earned a teaching certificate in 1959, and was soon teaching junior high in Wabowden, Manitoba, coming home every summer to work with his Dad in the Lobe Transport business. In 1964, he was filling a maternity leave in Lamont, Alberta, where he was taken with a vivacious, natural beauty named Betty Coulter, that he met at a curling bonspiel and kielbasa bake. Betty and Gene were married August 20, 1966, a week after her Nursing graduation. They moved to La Crete, Alberta, to start their life together as the local teacher and the Municipal Health nurse. Son Ivan was born in Fort Vermilion in 1969, and daughter Rachel followed in 1971. In 1972, they moved to High River, Alberta, where daughter Hilary was born in 1973. Dad was a gifted carpenter and, together with his brother Vern, built Mom and Dad’s dream home on a bare piece of land just outside High River. Through their early years of marriage, Dad pursued a second degree in Library Science at the University of Alberta and used these skills to set up libraries throughout Northern Alberta. Upon moving to High River, Dad ran the media centre for the Foothills School Division and taught high school before moving on to teach elementary school at Spitzee and Joe Clark Schools. After retiring from teaching, Dad enjoyed working at Home Depot, sharing his practical wisdom and earning his “Gene the Machine” orange apron. Betty and Gene combined their interest in people and love of travel by volunteering with Mennonite Disaster Service to help communities in need in various locales across North America. As a Crew Leader, Dad did everything including ordering supplies, coordinating projects, and mentoring volunteers on these construction projects. The MDS project in High River was near and dear to Gene’s heart. Mom and Dad planned to see the world and managed to visit 96 countries and 49 states together. Dad continued to travel after Mom’s passing but claimed “it’s just not the same”. Grandad knew what he liked, and liked what he knew - including milkshakes, good plain food, and pie. He was often called upon to share his vast knowledge, to step in and lend practical assistance, or to lighten the mood with his sly wit and mischievous chuckle. Grandad loved books, puns, history and games, such as Chess and cards. He also enjoyed having a project to work on, be it at his own home or the homes of others. In his home hung a sign that read “Love is an action word” and he was the embodiment of this throughout his life. A Celebration of Gene's Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday July 21, 2023 at the High River United Church, 123 Macleod Trail SW, High River, Alberta, with an inurnment at St. Alban’s Cemetery in Chailey at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mennonite Disaster Service Canada at www.mds.org. Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.4242.

Tributes

Mr. Eugene Ross Lobe

August 21, 1940 - July 8, 2023