Mr. Robert Walter "Bob" McNirney passed away surrounded by family in Kamloops on November 12, 2013 after a courageous fight with ALS.

He will be sadly missed by his two daughters Brenda McNirney (Randy) and Wendy Buffel (Greg) and his grandson Brian along with all his sister and brother in-laws, many nieces and nephews and Nonie Hutchison a special long-time friend.

Bob was predeceased by his wife Grace, brother Grant and sister Betty.

Bob was born in Lloydminster Sask. in 1930 and at the age of 8 lost his mother to MS, he then lived with his aunt and uncle through his school years who were both teachers. After high school he entered NAIT to become a carpenter. But he took a different path and started driving trucks for a living, and on one of those trips he stopped in a small town called Virden, Manitoba where he met his wife Grace. He then swept her off to Edmonton where they started their life together. Then in 1970 the family moved to BC, which to him was the best place in the world. When he wasn't working we would jump in the family RV and explore this beautiful province, after he discovered the Okanagan, Shuswap Lake and Vancouver Island this prairie boy belonged by the water. He taught his girls how to ice skate, ride a horse, ride a bike, fish, to build the best campfire, drive and most important to him, pass on his work ethic.

Bob was a lifelong CP employee with 50 years of safe driving. He built most of the houses that the family lived in and if you were looking for him you usually would find him fixing or building something in his workshop. He loved anything with a motor; cars, trains, trucks and planes. Bob loved to work and he was always building, repairing or working on some project for the girls or others. He was passionate about helping people and he was a lifelong member of the Lions Club. In retirement Bob and Grace would winter in Arizona and even after Grace passed he would still venture down south but it was never the same without her. They made numerous train trips across Canada and the US but his love was driving and he never forgot any city or highway. He was better than Rand McNally for information because he knew how long it would take and which highways to avoid. He also made friends where ever he went.

The family would like to send a heartfelt thanks to the ALS Society; they were amazing with the help they gave us and to Dr Calder. We would also like to thank the many nurses that gave our father years of excellent care and a final thanks to staff and nurses at Gemstone who gave dad first rate care in the last few months of his life.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 in the Schoening Funeral Chapel, 513 Seymour Street with Pastor Don Maione officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the ALS Society.