June 8, 1934 - May 15, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Robert (Bob) Nuyens on May 15, 2022 surrounded by his loving family at KBRH Trail after a long battle with kidney disease.
He is survived by his loving wife, June, of 17 years, brother Ray (Mary), sister-in-law Martha, Ruth Nuyens, sons Mark (Sandy), Ken (Peggy), Greg and daughter Lorri (Dave) Lauer. Grandchildren: Tony (Margie) Brooker, Ian (Keri) Sutherland, Kevin (Kristie) Lauer, Tiffany (Brent) Ryan, Benjamin (Carolina) Nuyens, Max (Emily) Nuyens, and Zoe Nuyens.
Great-grandchildren: Courtenay, Jordan, Avery, Sydney and Chloe; Great- great-grandchildren: Carter and Lucas; step-daughters: Debby (Dave) and Pam (Darren), step-grandchildren: Jessica, Taylor, Kelsey, Thomas and Jackson; brother-in-law George McKenzie, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many lifelong friends.
Bob was predeceased by his mother Audrey and father Joe, brother Earl, sister Diane Nicholls, daughter Linda Cole, grandson Jeff Lauer and second wife Shirley.
Bob was born in Chilliwack, B.C. on June 8, 1934. He was the oldest of four children and was raised in Chilliwack, Vernon and Nelson.
In 1953 Bob married his first wife Ruth Peachey, with whom he raised five children. In 1983 he married his second wife Shirley Richardson (passed 2002). In 2004 he married his third and last wife June Smith. They settled in Balfour where he lived until his passing.
Bob's background was in Finance, beginning with Laurentide Financial Corp. in Nelson, Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver. In 1971 he moved his family to Trail accepting a position as Manager of the Kootenay Savings Credit Union where he worked for nine years.
In 1992 Bob retired after working for the Nelson and District Credit Union as General Manager.
In 1977 Bob was voted Nelson's Citizen of the Year. All through his life he was an active volunteer in numerous health organizations, Past President of Jubilee Manor, Past President of Columbia View Lodge (as well as a founding member of their original planning committee), Past President of Trail Chamber of Commerce, Past President of Nelson Rotary Club, Past Deputy Governor of the Trail Kinsman Club, Chairman of the Finance Committee for Community Futures and many more.
For the last several years June has been a wife as well as a constant and loving caregiver to our Dad. She drove him back and forth from Balfour to Trail Hospital 2-3 times a week for his Dialysis treatments. Bob's family is so grateful for the wonderful care and love June gave to their Dad these past many years as his health declined.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation and thanks to the amazing Doctors in the Renal Department, Emergency and Third Floor as well as the Nurses at KBRH for the friendship and care they gave to Bob the last several years.
At Bob's request there will be no formal service at this time. There will be a private family gathering at a later date. Bill Clark of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services, Trail, B.C. has been entrusted with arrangements.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations in Remembrance of Bob may be made to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Health Foundation (Renal Department) at 1200 Hospital Bench, Trail, BC V1R 4M1 or online at www.kbrhhealthfoundation.ca. Procter-Harrop Seniors, and Balfour Seniors.
Bob will not only be missed by his family and friends, but also the Communities of Nelson and Trail, both better places with him having lived there.