Robert "Bob" Gaede

Other Events:

• Interesting: art
• Name: Bob Gaede
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-67830

Notes:

LIFETIMES: Winterbourne artist captured his life, family and local history

Robert (Bob) Gaede of Winterbourne, born: May 31, 1926, in Conestogo, died: Oct. 7, 2017, of multiple myeloma

Artist Bob Gaede used his art to capture precious moments from his long life and the history of his beloved Conestogo and Winterbourne. There are at least 25 binders filled with stories, sketches, old photographs, all local history catalogued with such incredible detail that each binder looks like the work of an experienced archivist.

In his art, much of it architectural, Bob etched and painted old homes, churches, mills and blacksmith shops but he also painted expressive landscapes, some of them light and airy watercolours, others bold and thickly layered oils.

"He always had different phases he'd go through," said daughter, Jennifer Snider. "He was interested in history and landmarks. He had a different way of looking at things."

Bob was one of only two children born in Canada to a Mennonite family that had fled persecution in Russia at the turn of the last century. His five other siblings were all born in Russia......

When the Gaede family first arrived from Russia, they ended up living in a converted blacksmith shop in Conestogo for a time. The shop is now a B&B and likely it was far less luxurious in the early 1920s.

From the time he was a kid, Bob showed artistic talent and it was his elementary school teacher who suggested he enter a competition, which he easily won. That was the spark, the impetus that would became his foundation. No matter what else he was doing, art was always more important.

Bob graduated from the Ontario College of Art and though he would never make a full-time living as an artist, he was nevertheless successful, selling several works as well as accepting commissions, including a lion sculpture and even advertising signs.

Bob's career aspirations took a slight deviation after he met Audrey Burnett when they played on opposing teams at baseball games, Winterbourne vs. Conestogo. They married in 1951, had three children: Deb, Jennifer and Rod, starting their married life living with family and from there, they just kept moving, at least seven places all around Winterbourne until Audrey finally purchased an empty lot for $100......

Deb said their father was still working in his studio up until a few months before he died.

"Dad's passion was for his art," said Jennifer. "He'd work in the factory during the day, come home and do work around the house then he spent his time doing art."

Hill, V. (2017). LIFETIMES: Winterbourne artist captured his life, family and local history | TheRecord.com. TheRecord.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017, from https://www.therecord.com/whatson-story/7740781-lifetimes-winterbourne-artist-captured-his-life-family-and-local-history/

__________________

Gaede, Robert "Bob" A.O.C.A. After a long and very productive life, Bob Gaede has "slipped the surly bonds of earth" and set up his easel in a better place. He is now reunited with his beloved wife Audrey (2016) and much missed siblings Olga, Frieda, Laura, Frank, Henry, and Rudy. He leaves behind his much loved children Jennifer Snider, Deb Gaede, and Rod (Eveline) Gaede. Lovingly remembered by his grandchildren James Gaede (Emily), Chris Snider (Tati), Jordan Gaede (fiancée Vallery), Nick Gaede (Tara), and Jackie Snider. Bob was also blessed with five great-grandchildren and one on the way. He had a special place in his heart for his nieces and their families, Elaine (Bert) Meng, Judy (Lee) Bell, and the late Sharon (Jack) Soeder. Bob's passion in life was his art. He had many stories of his enjoyable years in Toronto at the Ontario College of Art. His memories of his beloved village of Conestogo were often portrayed in his landscapes and his annual Christmas cards. In later years, Dad developed a liking for cats and he will be missed by his feline friend Jimmy. Memorial visitation will take place on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 from 7-9 p.m. at the Dreisinger Funeral Home, 62 Arthur St. S., Elmira. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church, 131 Flax Mill Dr., Conestogo. Interment of cremated remains in Winterbourne Cemetery will follow. Thank you to his family at St. Matthew's for their visits, prayers and concern. In Bob's memory, donation to St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church in Conestogo or the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre would be appreciated.

"For I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." Robert Frost

"Obituary Of Robert Gaede | Dreisinger Funeral Home Ltd.". 2021. Dreisingerfuneralhome.Com. https://dreisingerfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1004/Robert-Gaede/obituary.html.

Robert married Audrey Eileen Burnett 1951. Audrey (daughter of George William Burnett and Winnifred Alberta "Minnie" Gordon) was born 11 Apr 1925; died 16 Jan 2016, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Winterbourne Presbyterian Cemetery, Winterbourne, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]