Mr. Robert ‘Bob’ Leggette passed away at the Olds Hospital and Care Centre, Olds, Alberta on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at the age of 85 years. Bob was born in Grand Valley, Ontario on November 30, 1936, to parents Constance and Merrel. From a young age, the family involvement with horses began; the boys raced ponies and showed horses in Ontario and down through New York State, United States. Bob remembered racing on cement, sod, sand, dirt and ice tracks on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. Bob loved to race, and in his final days, he would ask how he looked on the track? He remembers beating Ronnie Turcott because Ronnie did not have enough horse to beat him. We know this to be a true story, as he had told us many times before. The ponies raced against the thoroughbreds of the time, and the ponies were winning! The Leggette boys were a force to be reckoned with, no matter the area they raced in. They were COWBOYS and true horsemen. Bob married at the tender age of seventeen to Janet Alberta “Bert” Rae and was blessed with three children, Debbie, Jim and Tom. Horses, rodeo, and showing them was a family affair. Many happy hours were spent going down the road, as the kids excelled at their chosen events. In the mid ‘70’s, the three kids travelled to Alberta to continue horse events, and it was soon after, Bert and Bob followed in their 3-ton truck, a mare and a foal, Bob’s twin nephews and their belongings. They settled at the Blue Bird Motel in Innisfail, Alberta until an old school parcel on George and Elsie Matthie’s land was purchased. Bob worked constructional all day, then worked with the horses, or judged rodeo events. Bert passed away on December 23, 1982. Bob married Linda Larsen in late 1983 and was blessed with two more children, Donnie and Amanda. Horses and eventually mules continued to be the main part of Bob’s life and were passed onto these kids as well. Rodeo wasn’t a part of the lifestyle anymore, but training, riding English and Western, driving and showing were all taught to, and enjoyed, by the whole family. The family was very busy with the local 4-H Clubs, the Bowden Light Horse Association and the Alberta Donkey and Mule Club. Bob even had the great privilege of competing on Team Arab at Spruce Meadow’s Battle of the Breeds. Life revolved around horses and there were always plenty on the property. Bob and Linda separated years later after Donnie and Amanda left home.
Bob happily lived the remainder of his years with Ida Newell. Of course, horses and the treasured Mule ‘Jessie’ continued to be a huge part of his life. He was still showing, riding, driving, training and trimming well past his 80 birthday! A true cowboy never quits! He was an active member of the Chinook Driving Club in his later years and showed at the Golden Age Horse Show annually. Bob had many different interesting jobs in his busy life. Construction was a large part of his employment for the duration of his life, but like a true cowboy he also made a living with his passion, horses. He worked for his dad’s flooring company and eventually started his own, in his early years. He spent years working at the GM Plant in Oshawa, Ontario, worked for Ian Tyson on his ranch, worked multiple construction jobs as a carpenter and was employed with his Mule Jessie, on a few movie sets in the last ten years. He was very proud of his work as a Carpenter and a Horseman; he passed these onto his children. No matter what Bob did in his life, he could always be found trimming, showing and training horses. Bob will be lovingly remembered by his spouse, Ida Newell, his sister, Bonnie, (Gord) Stickwood,his sister in law, Marie Leggette, his daughter, Debbie (Pete) Wallace, his son, Tom (Linda) Leggette, his son, Jim Leggette, his son, Donnie Leggette, his daughter, Amanda (Thomas) Leggette, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. Bob was predeceased by his parents, and his brothers, Dave Leggette, and Bill Leggette. A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held in the Spring of 2023. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006

• Date : 2022-10-04
• Location : www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com