Obituary of ROBERT JOHN MILLAR

With great sadness, we announce that Robert John Millar passed away on October 8, 2024 with his family by his side.

In his long and intrepid life, Rob was an athlete, a lifeguard, a racecar driver, an Air Force navigator, a chef and an adventurer. He was born at the Saskatoon City Hospital to his delighted parents Evelyn (Betty) Margaret and Dr. John Longmuir Millar, a veterinarian.

Rob’s youthful escapades included playing hockey, lifeguarding, and racing cars. He graduated from Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon before studying electronics at the DeVry Institute in Toronto. Rob spent four years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and trained as a navigator. 

Clever with tools and machinery, Rob could do pretty much whatever he set his mind to – be it skiing a black run, sailing a boat, mixing a mean Caesar, building a deck, carving a roast, organizing an overseas ski trip, setting up a computer system or writing tales of the little-known Ferdyburpolous. Much of his professional career involved selling and setting up business machines, including some of the first computers. He was employed by Western Business Machines in Saskatoon and by several companies in Winnipeg. In his later years, Rob enjoyed working as a superintendent at the Kingswood Golf & Country Club in LaSalle, and as greens staff at the Breezy Bend and St Charles Golf and Country Clubs in Winnipeg.

It was in Winnipeg that Rob married his soulmate and best friend Linda. The two were always together, and shared a love of entertaining. They were on a first-name basis with their neighbours and many in their community, and their living room and patio was often full of friends and family laughing together.

Memories of Robert and Linda can be found at: 

https://sumptuousrepast.com/rob-and-linda/

Rob was immensely proud of the three children he had with his first wife, Ruth, as well as of his seven grandchildren. Time spent with him was always fun, and included summers at Emma Lake, camping trips to BC, and ski trips in the Rockies. His talent for both storytelling and adventure made him great company. He was the only person we knew who could read a cookbook out loud at a party and actually have people listen.

In 1983, Robert received a Citation for Laudable Conduct from the City of Saskatoon, having saved 16 people from drowning in an underpass during a flash flood. 

Although we hoped to have more time with Rob, we understand that he was “sufficiently suffonsified” and compelled to join his beloved Linda. We love you forever, Dad. Thanks for showing us how it’s done.

Robert was predeceased by his wife Linda, his parents John and Betty Millar, his two sisters who died in infancy, and by close relatives Betty and Eddie Mather, Barb and Steve Churchman, and Bev and Larry Dufily. He is survived by his children Joni Millar (Darcy Munson), Jillian Millar (Dave) Drysdale, Jonathan (Krista) Millar, and grandchildren Lizzy and Sofi Munson, Katie and John Drysdale, and Scotia, Matlock and Callie Millar; nieces Cathy (Tony) Mariani and Bonnie Mather, former wife Ruth Millar; and many loving family members and friends.

We thank the care team at the Grace Hospital, particularly Donny, for caring for Rob during his brief illness.