Obituaries

ROBERT DOUGLAS HARPER
BORN MARCH 7, 1958

Rob died peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital on March 19, 2025, at the age of 67.

Left to mourn; his wife Marcia Hunt, brother Keith Gray (Kelly) their children Ashley, Dylan, his in-laws Calvin, Jim (Lynda), Valerie (Brian), Cynthia (Marc) and Stuart. Rob will be sorely missed by his nieces Chloe (Michael) and Del (Ryan) Ouimet and be fondly remembered by his aunts Diana (Terry)Fikowski, Lois Purchase and cousins David (Willa) and Doug Budzak.

Rob was predeceased by his parents, Nadia Didur and Alan Douglas Harper, and his dear sister Helen Harper (Tom).

Rob was born in Saskatoon and lived in Thunder Bay and Edmonton until his family settled in Winnipeg. He graduated from John Taylor Collegiate in 1975 and was called to the Manitoba Bar in June 1982. Although he practiced for 15 years, he decided the career was not a good fit. In 1999, he obtained a position at Canada Revenue Agency in the Human Resources Department where his legal training was an asset.

Rob and Marcia met at her sister’s social in February of 1984 and soon after their first date, started living together and were together for 41 years,

They both enjoyed cooking but Rob kicked it up a notch with a French Cooking course under his belt. He was also a natural baker making desserts and bread. His lemon meringue pie was a family favourite. And if you were lucky enough to stop by after he baked a loaf of bread, he would offer you a slice. If a pot of stew or soup was on the stove, Rob’s buttermilk biscuits were in the oven. After eating some American-style barbecue in St.Louis, he switched to coals to ensure an authentic taste. He always looked forward to the summer when he could barbecue to his heart’s content. He was going to try a beef brisket this summer.

As Bruce Springsteen fans, Rob and Marcia travelled throughout Canada and the United States to catch at least one show on each of his tours, sometimes two. They lost count of how many concerts they enjoyed. Springteen played Winnipeg for the first time in November, 2024 – a perfect cherry on top for long-time followers.

They went on a few winter vacations to Mexico but once they discovered Negril in Jamaica, the Seven Mile Beach was the only destination for them. They visited so many times, the Jamaicans called them JamaicaCanadians.

Following Rob’s retirement in 2019 they took a long promised trip to the maritimes and stayed at a bed ‘n breakfast in PEI that offered an Anne of Green Gables tour. The friendly island folks and the lobster suppers made them promise to go back. The pandemic and Rob’s failing health prevented a return.

A private family service will be held in the Spring for Rob.

”I’ll see you in my dreams
We’ll meet and live and laugh again.
For death is not the end
I’ll see you in my dreams.”