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Robert Fredrick James Raycraft
June 11, 1937 - November 17, 2014
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<div itemprop="description">Robert Fredrick James Raycraft, 77, of Red Deer, Alberta died peacefully, Monday, November 17, 2014 with his family at his bedside. He was born June 11, 1937 to the late Laura and Edward Raycraft, in (Elma Township) Monkton, Ontario. Bob was the fourth child and eldest boy of 16 children. <br /><br /><br />Bob was raised on a farm near Monkton, Ontario. He often commented on his love for farming and thought perhaps this is where he would have ended up if circumstances were different. Bob moved to Alberta in 1957 to work. He was employed with Farm Electric (later Calgary Power and then TransAlta Utilities), working his way to a lineman and later becoming the foreman of his crew. In 1980, he purchased a backhoe and started his own company. He referred to himself as the &ldquo;dirt surgeon&rdquo; and was given the moniker DIGGER. He worked most of his life retiring at 75 years of age. The past few years he spent summers around Red Deer and winters at the Big Bend Resort near Parker, California where the climate was more comforting to his bones, enjoying his many friends. Bob made several trips home to Ontario where he would relish visiting his sisters, brothers, and nieces and nephews. Bob truly enjoyed his life. His favorite times were being surrounded by his family and friends, having a smoke &amp; a beer, camping, fishing, playing card games, pool and swapping stories. <br /><br /><br />Bob will be missed by his three children: Debra (Randy) Rehn, Kathy (Kevin) Hildebrand and Robert Raycraft (Tammy) Tyler, Sarah and Evan; his grandchildren Kurt and Karys Hildebrand; sisters and brothers Ruth, Eldeen (Harvey), Shirley, Margie (Ron), Mary, Barb (Cam), Edna (Don), Sharon (Keith), and Donna (Steve), George (Sandy), Harold (June), Sheldon (Deb),Elwood (Olive); brother-in-law Sid Larsen (Jenny); sister-in-law Joyce Raycraft; and his many nieces and nephews. <br /><br /><br /><br />Bob was predeceased by his wife Margaret; brothers Eldon and Jack; brothers-in-law: Wayne Larsen, Jack Ward, John Van Stavern and Sam Wagner; and sisters-in-law Nancy Raycraft, Pat Raycraft, and Helen Raycraft. <br /><br /><br />The family invites those who wish to remember Bob to a Memorial Celebration of his life at East 40 (3811-40th Ave, Red Deer, Alberta) on December 21, 2014 from 12:00-3:00PM. <br /><br /><br />In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southwood Hospice Calgary, 211 Heritage Dr. SE., Calgary, AB T2H 1M9.<br /></div>