HEITSHU Robert G. “Bob”
BGen (retired) - RCA
Bob died peacefully at the Hospice at Maycourt in Ottawa on June 2nd, 2017. He was born in Quebec City on April 15th, 1928. He joined the Militia in 1944 and received his commission in the Canadian Forces in 1950 thus serving 39 years. Being a soldier was his life’s dream and he always said ‘they pay me to do what I love’. He became an Army Pilot and a member of the AirOP and later served as the president of the Canadian AirOP Association. He commanded the 3rd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Winnipeg and 5CBG in Valcartier. His last posting was to SHAPE in Mons, Belgium as Secretary to the Chief of Staff. Following retirement from the military in 1983, he joined the Corps of Commissionaires and was Commandant of the Ottawa division until his retirement in 1996. He also served as Chairman of the Gloucester Police Commission. He is survived by his wife Wendy, his daughter Daphne, his son John (Julie) and his brother Mark (Marjorie). He was predeceased by his first wife Jacqueline, his brother Ross and his sister Pauline.
A private family burial with Military Honours will take place at the National Military Cemetery. Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Bob’s life on Saturday June 17th at 2 p.m. in the Sacred Space of Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Ave. (east of Vanier Parkway). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice Care Ottawa, specifically to the Hospice at Maycourt.