Obituary of Robert Thorkild Herbison

Bob passed away on April 7th in his home at the Veterans Village in the Sherbrooke Community Centre with five of his children at his bedside. He was 96 years old. Dad was born in Grayling Michigan in 1922. He graduated from high school in Grayling in 1940 and set out for university at Michigan State. 

In the late fall of 1941 he and his cousin enlisted in the US Naval Air Force to avoid being drafted into the army! He served in Hawaii and San Diego in various PBY squadrons until the end of World War II. He continued to serve in the Naval Reserve for 15 more years.

After the war he transferred to Northwestern University just north of Chicago, graduating with a degree in Business Administration in 1947. While at school he worked part time at A&P Grocers as a meat buyer in their corporate headquarters where, in 1947 he met Claudia, our Mom. They were married in May 1949. 

Dad worked in the meat packing industry for 34 years, starting out in Chicago at an affiliate of Canada Packers. Dad and Mom lived in the Chicago area until 1957 when Dad was transferred to the Canada Packers plant in St. Boniface, Manitoba.  In 1961 Claudia and Bob moved to Saskatoon with their growing family, now up to six children. He started work at Intercontinental Packers where he attained the level of Sr. Vice President of Manufacturing. In 1980 he left Intercon and joined Cosmopolitan Industries as Executive Director where he stayed until his retirement in 1987.

After retirement he joined Kiwanis, travelled to the USA, Europe and many locations in Canada. He played golf on a regular basis and continued to volunteer at Cosmo.

Dad was pre-deceased by his wife Claudia in 2009. Their family, which expanded to become a much larger family, was always their priority through nearly 60 years of married life. Dad leaves behind seven children Pamela Johnson (Rick), Bob (Sandy), Joanne Tyerman (Peter), Paul, John (Heather), Yvonne (Dale), and Maggie.  He dearly loved his grandchildren, Jennifer, Andrew, Amy, Jeremy, Lisa, Kathleen, Gillian, Sarah, Caitlyn, Francis, Danielle, Victoria, and Erin and his great grandchildren, Oliver, Ella, Mazzy, Mikaya, Rylan, Louis, Emma, Zachary, and Taylor. 

Bob’s family would like to thank all the staff at Sherbrooke’s Veterans Village, and also Tracey, at Warm & Cozy Personal Care Home, for their kindness and the loving care they provided in his last years. In Bob’s memory donations can be made to Cosmopolitan Industries, 1302 Alberta Ave. Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7K 1R5.

Dad’s long-time and cherished friend, Fr. Ron Beechinor, will assist in the funeral and mass service which will be held at 10:30 AM on April 13, 2019 at St. Philip Neri Church, 1902 Munro Ave. Saskatoon.