1958 ~ Robert “Punk” McMurray ~ 2026 (Beloved husband, father, brother, uncle “Unkie”, and grandfather “Punka”."The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the Central Alberta Cancer Center and doctors Amaro and Sharma, the chemo nurses and the radiation technologists, and the palliative-care pain management team. Their care extended his life. We further thank the tender and gentle nursing staff at Red Deer Regional Hospital Unit 32 and Palliative Care. Their skill and compassion allowed Punk to achieve his final wish “to go out sleeping, not screaming” - privately, peacefully and with dignity and with his wife by his side. Thank you also to Jolene Brayford and Stacie McMurray at Parkland Funeral Home for their compassion and care."

Ran when parked.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Robert “Punk” McMurray on Monday, August 3, 2026 at the age of 68 years. Beloved husband, father, brother, uncle “Unkie”, and grandfather “Punka”.

Punk was born to Bob and Heddi McMurray and was the second of five boys. His nickname came from his older brother who reportedly asked after meeting his baby brother for the first time, “Do we have to bring that punk kid home?” The name stuck. It appeared on his business card alongside his brothers Mike, Mark, Pat and the de facto sixth brother Darwin for many years. Working alongside his father and brothers was a source of great pride. Twin Rock was established in 1977, and Punk took over the reins April 1994. Each brother had their niche within the company, and the sum was greater than its parts. When asked what he did for a living he would simply say “I push dirt around in circles.” He graduated from SAIT Civil Engineering Technology in 1986. Punk often said, “if you love what you are doing, you don’t work a day in your life”. Punk and Kandy met in 1994, when she was 23 and he was 36. Sparks flew when they scouted a wellsite near Gull Lake and when walking back to the trucks were caught in a crashing thunderstorm. Kandy was his boss then, and her analytical brain had several objections, but her heart had none. They were married in 1999 in Mexico surrounded by family and close friends. They shared a values-based life of love, family, adventure, and hard work – and he often joked “she is still my boss”. They had a wonderful and loving life together and the photo albums are proof of a life well lived – a mishmash of work and construction photos, vacations, family events – repeat, for 33 years. Punk was a man of few words, and Kandy is a woman of many, and Punk often quipped that she “outtalked him 100 words to one”. This truth could be extended to most relationships in his life and what he said mattered.

Punk was a constant father to Dana and RJ, and later to Hannah and Steven, when he and Kandy decided to “refill the nest” in 2007. Punk loved children and found them particularly adorable and ready for purposeful interaction around age three, before kindergarten. He always said, “show me a polite kid and I will show you a good kid.” His nieces and nephews also had a special place in his life, and he built enduring relationships based on shared values and commitment to family.

Punk also loved music. He once tried to play guitar, but when talent failed to cooperate, he became an excellent listener instead. He often came home from work sunglasses on and rocking along to a favourite song. His playlist, August and Everything After, was legendary and always played from the beginning, the first few chords of the Counting Crows Song “Mr. Jones” starting many parties. Punk was a lyric man, and the lines “When everybody loves you, You can never be lonely” are particularly poignant because having had Punk in our lives has left an extraordinary legacy and example, and our lives are more beautiful having had Punk in it. Punk was comfortable in his own skin. He was equally at home building a lease, as at a downtown Calgary Christmas party wearing a suit – where he was often labelled as “Punk Hubl” (which he enjoyed, and never corrected), as with vacationing at the Banff Springs, or poolside in Monaco – always with a beer in hand. Wherever he was, Punk was easy to be with – intelligent, relaxed, witty, interested, and fully present.

He is lovingly remembered by his love and wife of 33 years, Kandy; their children, Hannah and Steven; Dana (Dennis) and their children Aralynn and Jack; RJ (Kari); brothers Mike (Cheryl), Mark (Sandy), Pat (Sharon) and John (Sheila); in-laws Ken and Annie Hubl, and brother-in-law Travis (Katryna). He will also be deeply missed by his nieces and nephews: Josh, Jordan, Shawna, Julie, Tucker, Stacie, Samantha, Karl, Jantina, Olivia, Ben, Natalie, Alexa, Greyson, Griffin, and Cohen; and next-door neighbours (most especially – Jon and baby Miles who was a particularly bright spot in his life the last year); extended family; close friends; and extensive work network. He always said, “I don’t need many friends, when my brothers are my best friends”. Punk said “I gotta go, but you gotta keep going”.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the Central Alberta Cancer Center and doctors Amaro and Sharma, the chemo nurses and the radiation technologists, and the palliative-care pain management team. Their care extended his life. We further thank the tender and gentle nursing staff at Red Deer Regional Hospital Unit 32 and Palliative Care. Their skill and compassion allowed Punk to achieve his final wish “to go out sleeping, not screaming” – privately, peacefully and with dignity and with his wife by his side. Thank you also to Jolene Brayford and Stacie McMurray at Parkland Funeral Home for their compassion and care.

In keeping with Punk’s longstanding wish for privacy, a private gathering will be held with family and close friends at a later date. We will all keep Punk’s legacy, example and memory alive in our hearts and minds. And, at Punk’s request—for those who knew him best, his vintage snowmobiles, and his “bagdragger” ways: Ran when parked. If desired, Memorial Donations in Punk’s honour may be made directly to Central Alberta Cancer Centre at www.canceradvocacy.org. Cremation entrusted to Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, Red Deer, Alberta. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com