ROBERT (BOB) NORMAN KOBITZ

ROBERT (BOB) NORMAN KOBITZ November 3, 1938 November 11, 2025
Bob was born on the family farm, along the Fort Walsh road, 18 miles South West of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan to Mike and Anna Kobitz. Bob was the 5th of 7 sons, plus he also had 2 sisters, so there was always someone around to get into trouble with. Being the 5th son, he knew he was never going to inherit the family farm, so he left school at an early age, and worked for a short time in Calgary and also at the Maple Creek PFRA.
His cousin’s husband owned a bakery, and Dad started his baking career in Maple Creek. He subsequently took transfers to their Medicine Hat bakery, and finally to Henry’s Bakery in Swift Current. In his younger years, Dad played baseball and also bowled. In fact, he almost had a perfect bowling game, and his high score was displayed for years down at the bowling lanes.
Later he worked at McCoy/Esler industries, and also worked as a general handyman around Swift Current before retiring. He could fix anything, and took great pleasure in bringing home a broken snow blower that someone disposed of, and getting more years out of it. Bob enjoyed retirement and went on daily trips to find the best bargains at the grocery stores; and could tell you what building was constructed when as he would sit and watch the construction for hours. Dad was a very inquisitive person, and kept an atlas at his chair side, and whenever there was a news story about a place he never heard of, would look it up to see where it was in the world. He spent his last day in the hospital watching an old-time western movie which he probably had seen many times before.
Bob is survived by his daughter, Michelle (Michael Zaplitny), and son Mark. Also, his two grandchildren: Teagan (Chance Payne), and Adam Dyck; and his two great-grand daughters: Caitlyn and Scarlett.
Bob was predeceased by his wife, Lorraine, in 2023; his parents, Mike & Anna; and his siblings: Harry, Dan, Ethel, Lorne, Tommy, and recently his youngest brother, Kenny. Also, various brothers & sisters-in-laws, and his in-laws, Mike and Aggie Thares.
He is survived by his elder brother, Gordon, of Estevan, and his younger sister, Jane, of Maple Creek. Also, his brother-in-law, Jim Thares, and sisters-in-law Ann Frolek, and Jean Croissant and their families.
Bob loved any 4-legged animal, and most recently started feeding a squirrel that he lovingly called “Melvin,” even though it was a female. The squirrel was so tame, it would sit on the front step railing and peer into the front door, waiting for peanuts. If that didn’t work, “Melvin” would bang against the screen door until someone came to feed her.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter, as Bob would have adopted them all if that was possible.
Arrangements entrusted to Warren’s Funeral Home. For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit the website www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.