ROBERT (BOB) JOHN SHERRETT

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ROBERT (BOB) JOHN SHERRETT Robert (Bob) John Sherrett was born in Toronto, Ontario on February 5, 1923 to Allan and Edna Sherrett. The family moved to Kenora, Ontario in the summer of 1926 where Allan joined the Daily Miner and News as Editor. Bob was educated in Kenora public schools and grew up hunting, fishing and swimming on Lake of the Woods, which he always loved. Bob joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on his 18th birthday, graduated as a Sergeant Air Gunner and proceeded overseas in early 1942. He was stationed in Linconshire with 57 Squadron, 15 Bomber Group, flying in the rear turret of Manchester and Lancaster aircraft. Bob returned to Canada in 1943 and, while stationed in Toronto, met the girl he would marry after the war, Joan Wetton. In April 1944 Bob volunteered for a second tour of duty. He flew back to England where he served in an all-Canadian crew, as Gunnery Leader on 431 Canadian Squadron, 6 Bomber Group, with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Bob survived being shot down in the English Channel in November, 1942, and again, a year later, he was the only member of his air crew to survive after their aircraft was badly damaged on the Peenemünde Raid. Bob was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, bar to the Operational Wings, and was mentioned in Dispatches. After his discharge from the R.C.A.F. in 1946, Bob returned to Kenora where he married Joan, to whom he was married for 64 years until her passing in 2010. Their son James (Jim) Allan Sherrett was born in 1947 and the family moved to Winnipeg in 1954 where Bob entered the real estate business. Bob spent 50 years as commercial realtor in Winnipeg. He served as a director of the Winnipeg Real Estate Board for a two year term, retiring in 2004. He was a member of Breezy Bend Country Club for over 35 years and always maintained his interest in hunting and fishing at Lake of the Woods and throughout Manitoba with his son Jim and wonderful grandsons Jamie and Scott. Bob was an ardent supporter of his grandsons, and could always be found in the stands or on the sidelines of their numerous sporting activities. A member of the Assiniboine Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bob enjoyed over 54 years of sober, happy living and maintained his sobriety until his death on Sunday, July 1, 2012. The family would like to thank the staff of Deer Lodge Centre, Tower Seven, for their excellent care of Bob over the past year. Bob will be remembered fondly by his friends and family: Jim and Linda, Jan and Keith, James and Monique, and Scott and Amanda. He was an incredibly important part of our lives and we will miss him for the rest of our days. On Friday, July 5 a small gathering is being held at a private residence to celebrate the life of Bob Sherrett. If you would like to attend, please email sherrett@mts.net or call 489-1247 for directions.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 05, 2012