Obituary of Robert John Degenhardt

Robert John Degenhardt passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 27, 2025 at his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Robert was born on July 19, 1942 at his grandparents’ homestead in Emberville, just west of Peerless, Saskatchewan, to parents Frank and Margaret (nee Schiller) Degenhardt. He grew up in a family of 10 children, where he was the second oldest. As he was the first grandson in his father’s family, his siblings claim he was thoroughly spoiled by his paternal grandfather as well as numerous uncles and aunts. He enjoyed his life in Peerless, as he loved the rural life. He moved with his family to Edmonton in the summer of 1956 where he went to school for a period of time. Robert missed small town life though and never fully adjusted to living in a big city so he moved back to northern Saskatchewan where he lived with various uncles and aunts. 

Throughout his life Robert worked on different farms in northern Saskatchewan and in the Weyburn, Saskatchewan area, with a significant amount of time being on the farms of his uncles and extended family. He had a special love for horses and many of his working experiences involved work with horses, whether he was riding or training them. 

During his working career, he not only worked on farms but also rode pasture for PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Association) keeping track of the livestock, water and fences, had stints truck driving and working in the construction industry. 

Robert had friends all over Western Canada as he moved from Manitoba to British Columbia and up to the Northwest Territories. Robert was a very friendly and talkative person who would strike up conversations with anyone around. Throughout his years, Robert was an avid reader and would explore the public library offerings of wherever he lived. He loved a good Western, as that is where his roots lay. 

Throughout the years, whenever a game of Trivial Pursuit was played, you wanted Robert on your team as his knowledge of miscellaneous facts was incredible. His love of learning resulted in him going back to school and he was extremely proud of himself for getting his high school diploma at the tender age of 62. 

He was predeceased by his parents Frank and Margaret Degenhardt, younger sister Louise Ellis, older infant brother Frank Degenhardt, nephews Wendel & Warren Calkins, as well as numerous aunts and uncles. He leaves behind to remember him Rosalie (Wayne – deceased) Calkins, Gordon (Marsha) Degenhardt, Anita (Barry) Melnyk, Keith (Terry Lee) Degenhardt, Delbert (Eleanor) Degenhardt, Dallas (Marcia) Degenhardt & Ward (Lynn) Degenhardt, and Shelley (Grant) Zahaiko, and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.