Robert (Bob) William Flinn

It is with great sadness that the family of Robert (Bob) William Flinn regretfully announce his sudden passing on November 30th, 2023 in Vernon, BC following a brief illness.

Bob – also affectionately known as RW – was born April 20, 1946 in Calgary, AB to William (Bill) Thomas Flinn and Sarah Flinn. The family lived in the Turner Valley and Calgary area until moving to Lacombe in 1949 where Bob spent all his early years. As a teen, he worked first as an usher at the Lux Theatre in Lacombe and then, after receiving his Class 3 Projectionist License, he ran the movies at the Lux. With his Projectionist License, one of his first jobs as a young man was as a Rec Director in Fort McMurray when it was just starting up. After Fort McMurry, he took an office job with a Lumber Mill in Revelstoke but eventually returned to Lacombe and began water well drilling with W.T. Flinn Drilling working with his father. He eventually started his own drilling company, RW Flinn Drilling, which he operated for many years in both Alberta and BC. In 1989, the family moved to Vernon where he continued drilling water wells but also ventured into the drilling of elevator shafts. Bob returned to the Lacombe area in 2004 living in Blackfalds. He still was drilling but now had also started acting as a broker with his company ABCO International in buying and selling large drilling equipment and supplies. He had been enjoying retirement the last few years and wintered in Arizona with his RV for 2 winters. He divided his time between friends and family in Lacombe and Blackfalds and with his family in Vernon. 

Bob is survived by his son Aaron Flinn of Vernon; his daughter Zoe (Jonathan) Gillis and their son August of Vernon; his son Paul Schouten of Salt Lake City, Utah and his children Mitchell, Sydney and Pierson; his sister Terrie (Bob) Huff of Lacombe; his sister Myrna (Seibel) deCou, of Onaping, ON; his 3 sister-in-laws in Lacombe Shirley Flinn, Anna Flinn and Dorothy Seibel; his brother-in-laws Norman Semograd of Williams Lake, BC, Harvey Semograd of Invermeer, BC,  and Dean Semograd of Kamploops, BC; Aaron and Zoe’s mother Brenda (Semograd) Flinn as well as many close friends and nieces and nephews who loved their flamboyant “Uncle Bob”.

Bob was predeceased by his parents Bill and Sarah Flinn; his brothers Les Flinn and Don Flinn; his sisters from his Dad’s first marriage and their spouses Iva (Alex) Johnson, Clara (Alvin)Trenholm and Edna (Brian) McSween; his brothers from his mother’s first marriage Allan Seibel and his wife Ruby; George Seibel; a brother-in-law Ron (Myrna) deCou ; a sister-in-law Barb Semograd; his father and mother-in-law Mike and Esther Semograd; a brother-in-law Brent Semograd .

There will be a “Gathering of the Clan” along with all who knew and loved Bob in Lacombe to give him a send off on April 20, 2024 from 2:00-5:00pm at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.  A Informal Tribute Service will start at 2:00 pm.

A Graveside Service will take place at the Fairview Cemetery on April 20, 2024 at 1:15pm. 

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