In loving memory of Robert Napish, age 65 years, who passed away on May 9th peacefully at the Dryden Regional Health Center after a courageous battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Robert was born on August 19th, 1945 in Dryden, Ontario. Robert attended residential school in Kenora and Winnipeg. Robert completed highschool in Thunder Bay. Robert was active in hockey, baseball and basket ball in his youth. Robert played hockey with several of his residential school mates in his youth. Robert cherished those memories and he reveled in the success of the Kenora Braves and Eagle Lake Chiefs as their goaltender in the 1970s and 1980s. Robert was a man of many skills who could trap, hunt and fish. Robert could find a solution to any mechanical problem that came across his plate. Robert was a logger at heart. He spent many of his adult years cutting wood and in the late stages of his career, he delivered wood by truck to various mills in the area. Robert was a creative thinker who worked on several projects that kept him and his good friend Chuck very busy.
Robert loved his children, his siblings and family, however, in his last years of his life, he paid special attention to his grandchildren. Robert was blessed to have his young grandchildren around him. He mentioned several times that his grandchildren provided him with the opportunity to parent again. He will be sadly missed by his children, grandchildren and family and friends.
Robert is survived by his three sisters, Margret (Don), Bessie, Mary, and brother Roy (Betty). Robert leaves behind his children Pamela (Kevin), Loretta (Carrie), Louie (Linda) and Trisha (Charles). Robert cherished his grandchildren Ian, Dallas, Reece, Shyanne, Laura and Layla. Robert also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Robert was predeceased by his mother Laura, father Joseph, sister Cecilia, brothers Tony and Wilfred.
The family wanted to pay special appreciation for those care providing members of the Eagle Lake First Nation Health Team and the professional and compassionate staff at the Dryden Regional Health Center.
Visitation will take place at his residence at 1260 Ojibaway Drive on the Eagle Lake First Nation on May 11 from 1pm to midnight. Visitation will resume at the Eagle Lake Community Complex at 1pm on May 12th. At Robert’s wish, a Roman Catholic and Traditional ceremony will be held on May 13 at the Eagle Lake First Nation Community Complex at 1pm.
If friends desire, donations may be made to the Canadian Lung Association through the Dryden Community Funeral Home
