Sturgess is seen here at one of his favourite events, Calgary Expo, in 2019, with of course Greedo from Star Wars. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

one with the force

Maker of popular Red Deer R2-D2 remembered as a legend and doting father

May 8, 2021 | 2:47 PM

Passionate. Geeky. Kind. Generous. Legend.

That’s how family and friends of Kris Sturgess describe the man who became known as ‘Mr. R2-D2’ around central Alberta.

Sturgess passed away at Red Deer Regional Hospital on April 28. His wife, Danielle Timoffee, says his death was not linked to COVID-19.

He would have turned 47 on Saturday.

Kris and Danielle were together for 15 years and have two kids, Benjamin (Ben), 13, and Lukas (Luke), 5.

Last seen Nov. 7

Missing: Sierra Evans, 17, of Innisfail

50m ago

Nov. 5

Maskwacis RCMP asking for public's help identifying two armed robbery suspects

1h ago

Labour force statistics

Red Deer region's unemployment rate slightly up in October

2h ago

Kris Sturgess, who passed away April 28, is seen here with spouse Danielle, older son Benjamin and younger son Lukas, in recent years. (Supplied)

The force was extremely strong with Kris, from his kids’ names, to the ‘better than movie prop quality’ R2-D2 he spent over a decade building, to the undying love he gave his sons.

“What really amazed me about Kris was the number of people he’d reach out to if they needed help, whether he really knew them or not. People would come to him and he never said no. If someone was down on their luck and having a hard time, he’d give anything he could,” Timofee says, who admits there was a time where she had yet to be indoctrinated into Star Wars fandom.

It was actually her, not Kris, who came up with Ben (as in Kenobi) for their son’s first name after skimming through a baby name book when he was born early.

“All of Kris’s little, what I call geeky and nerdy things, but also passions and hobbies, combined and through those if there was ever an event for Make-A-Wish or Children’s Miracle Network, he’d make a point of rescheduling to make sure he could be there for it with R2. He liked to make people happy, especially kids.”

Sturgess, a Makerspace Technician at Red Deer College, spent many an hour working alongside the 501st Legion-Badlands Garrison, a Star Wars fan group which he was set to become a member of as a Stormtrooper. He was also an avid member of the Calgary Ghostbusters.

“You’d hear the happy whirring and beeping of R2, and see him spinning happily, greeting all that were thrilled to see him. What you’d see next is this tall man, grinning happily as he scanned the mood of everyone around his droid,” says Teresa Nuthall, 501st member. “At his side, you’d see this sweet youngling (son Luke) with a mop of curly blonde hair and a smile as big as his dad’s. Kris was a warm, kind, witty, bright light that lit up any room.”

In 2018, Sturgess attended an event with the 501st Legion, a Make-A-Wish ceremony for local teen and fellow massive Star Wars fan, Anakin Suerink.

Suerink’s mother, Elizabeth Eckert, remembers Sturgess as humble.

“Getting to know the man behind R2 was fantastic. Kris really stood out to me because he had this quiet kind of repose. He’s a big man, but it wasn’t confidence he exuded. It wasn’t, ‘Oh, look at me, I have R2.’ He just wanted to share his creation enough that R2 got the glory,” Eckert says. “We adored him. He took all kinds of time to explain about building R2 and helping with the 501st. We also got to talking about his boys who were born premature just like Anakin. I really got to know Kris as this amazing man who adored his children, and he just had all the qualities of a great man.”

Sturgess, with sons Ben (left) and Luke (right), in recent years. (Supplied)

Timoffee says the Star Wars fandom and other nerdiness will continue. But perhaps most importantly, it’s her hope that their sons — and even the public — carry on Sturgess’s legacy of being a gentle soul and a driven man committed to being kind to others and providing a happy childhood for his kids.

They also have several of Kris’s latest creations left to finish in the garage they practically lived in, she adds.

“When he saw something and he wanted it, he’d dream big and go for it. Things he did for the boys, if it was something he could build or create to make them happy or gleeful, he’d be on it,” she says. “He took our kids to events, and they knew they were raising money for whatever organization. Both were born extremely prematurely and just being in that scenario for months with sick babies, I think that helped propel Kris too.”

rdnewsNOW interviewed Sturgess in 2017.

“It’s a passion of building, electronics, metalwork, and in the end I came out with a good product that I enjoy, and everyone else enjoys,” he explained. “I love seeing kids come up to him at a show to give him a hug. The magic of R2, seeing that with the kids, is awesome.”

Due to COVID-19, a celebration of life worthy of Kris’s “legendary” status won’t happen in the immediate future. But Timoffee promises once it does, it will be epic.

A GoFundMe is raising money for his sons’ education.

May the force be with you Kris, always.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the rdnewsNOW newsletter here. You can also download the rdnewsNOW mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.