It is with hearts breaking that we say goodbye to our much loved husband, father, son, and brother, Robert Charles Nagel, who passed peacefully in the arms of his loving wife of 40 years Marie (nee Macedo) at Victoria Hospice on Friday, June 14th after a long-fought battle with cancer.

Robert is predeceased by his father, Richard Alfred Nagel (AKA “The Duke of Sooke”), and leaves behind his mother, Margaret Nagel, his wife Marie, his children Kimberly, Clayton (Darcie), and Tyler, his grandchildren Aidyn, Gray, and Nixon, and his siblings Ronnie (Lori), David (Maria), Karmen, and Kandice. He also leaves behind 24 nieces and nephews.

Born in Victoria, BC, Rob spent his youth at Belmont Park as the son of a navy man. He apprenticed as a bricklayer in his early twenties and was pleased to obtain his journeyman’s ticket. He loved his work, which took him to the farthest corners of British Columbia. As a natural outdoorsman, he loved to camp and canoe, fish and drink warm wildcat’s beer, enjoying the beauty of BC, which he always lovingly referred to as “God’s country.”

Lucky enough to find love twice, Rob married Glenda Ashton-Ward in 1972, and three years later, they welcomed Kimberly Lea-Anne to the world. Later, in 1981, Rob met and married Maria Macedo, and they soon welcomed Robert Clayton and then Tyler Andrew.

Rob loved hockey. He played for many years as a goaltender and his last team, the Wranglers, won the Pacific Cup. They went on to play in the High Roller’s Classic in Las Vegas, where a good time was had by all. He also spent considerable time at the rink with his kids, taking them to practices, games and tournaments. It was here that he made many close and lasting friendships with the other hockey parents.

Rob was also a lover of cooking. Marie would often find him whipping up a batch of banana bread for the neighbourhood or a pasta salad for a family barbeque. He enjoyed cooking for others and created some of the family’s favourite meals, despite never following a recipe.

During his illness, Rob, who was a great fan of the Seattle Seahawks, had the opportunity to take a trip to Seattle with his daughter Kim, where they watched the Seahawks defeat Green Bay in an epic game. It was a once in a lifetime experience for him.

Rob could be an enigma at times. He liked his “kitty cats” warm and his television tuned to Antiques Roadshow, but he was also always interested in current issues and had a soft spot for his kids and grandkids. Not well known is the fact that he was a lover of poetry, Robert Service being his favourite author. As Rob went through his cancer treatments, he would often read his favourite poem, “Carry On,” which ends like this:

Carry on! Carry on!

Fight the good fight and true;

Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;

There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here.

Carry on! Carry on!

Let the world be the better for you;

And at last when you die, let this be your cry!

Carry on, my soul! Carry on!

–          Robert Service

In true Rob fashion, he didn’t want a service, so the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Victoria Hospice at https://www.victoriahospice.org/donate.

Please share your memories and condolences below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

  • Margo & Milton D'Souza

    Marie, Clayton, Tyler and Family

    So very sorry for your loss. May you find peace and joy with your memories of Rob in the days & months to come.

    Our Love & Thoughts are with you all

    Margo & Milton D’Souza

  • Paul Smith

    Dear Marie & family,

    Please accept our deepest condolences.
    Robbie and I were very good friends when we hung together in the 1960s and early seventies. Many great memories.
    One of my best memories was when Robbie was an usher at our wedding and while driving the bridesmaids to the wedding reception, the car broke down…there was Robbie and the bridesmaids pushing the car down Esquimalt Rd. heading for the Old England Inn on Lampson St! They made it!
    Sincerely,
    Paul & Rhonda Smith

  • Layna Watchorn

    Marie, Clayton and Tyler,

    Sending you strength and love at this difficult time.
    So very sorry for your loss, may you find peace with your memories in the days to come.

    Layna

  • Doug and Audrey Fox

    Maria, and family:
    We are so sad to hear of Robs passing. We are very glad we got to spend some time together at “the reunion” in Jasper. Very glad
    I got to get to know you both and spend time with “the Captain”
    In Edmonton. It is very sad indeed and we send
    Our warm condolences to you, Maria and the children
    Xoxo

  • Sharon and Skinny Green

    Skinny and I wish to extend our condolences to Rob’s family and friends. I remember when he came to visit Mom and Dad in New Brunswick. He will be missed by many.

  • Greg Searle

    Marie and Family, so sorry to learn of Rob’s passing. Lots of great hockey memories from playing with and against Rob in the Saturday night league in Esquimalt. Thinking of your family during this time.

  • Kelvin and Lois Miller

    Marie
    So sorry to hear of “Captain Highliners” passing. We have so many good memories of our years in Edmonton with you folks. We were quite the bunch, all those crazy bricklayers and their better halves, lol.
    Our deepest sympathies to you all at this difficult time.

  • Cindy Warden

    Marie
    My thoughts are with you and your family….

    Cindy

  • Janet Hutson

    Clayton,
    I was so sad to hear of the loss of your Dad. True to his character he fought a good fight. My favorite memory was his great sense of cheeky humor and his impeccable sense of timing.
    I know he will be missed by all that knew him.
    May you and your family find peace in the coming days ahead.

  • Carol Tiffin

    I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you Kandice and your family.

  • Tina Golebiewski

    I was so sorry to hear of your families loss Karmen. He is at peace and not in pain and was lucky to have loved and been loved by many.

  • Linda

    To Clay and Darcie,
    What a beautiful tribute.
    Wish we’d known him.
    Bless,
    Linda & Mike

  • Gloria mcarthur

    Marie Clayton Tyler Kim Nagel family,

    continue the journey of life he would have wanted you too take comfort in each other and from
    those that loved him, put down your warm wildcats hold each other tight put on van Morrison brown eye girl and put a smile on your face as Robbie always did when he danced with his brown eyed girl, Rob may you final rest in peace we will miss my friend love you.

    John Gloria Mcarthur

  • Leslie Albers

    Marie,
    I am so very sorry to hear of Rob’s passing. I am hoping that with the strength and love of your family that you find your way through all this sadness in as gentle way as possible. Take care. You are in my thoughts. I have nothing but good memories of working with you.
    Much love, Leslie

  • Ron Nagel

    Rob you were a crusty old bugger on the outside but a marshmallow on the inside. Your support and help when I was younger has helped define me throughout my life. Your sense of humor has been the glue of our relationship. You will never be forgotten.

  • Karmen Mckay (Nagel)

    Rob….gone for now but never forgotten.Rest easy big brother, I love you. No worries, the family will make sure Marie and your family will be ok.

    LOVE YOU NOBBIE!!!

  • Dizzy

    I wish we were closer, I will miss knowing that you were around drinking your god awful warm beer,hearing your smart ass sarcastic comments,and hearing your great Nagle laugh.To say that the world is a sadder place now without you in it seems so cliche but it’s true.Many will miss you, you were a unique person and I’m fortunate our paths crossed. God speed my friend.

  • Bernadette

    What a lucky family you are to have had such a wonderful, funny, quirky man in your life. You were blessed to have such love and it will continue until you meet again. Thinking of you.

  • Kandice Nagel

    You fought the good fight but are now at peace. You will be greatly missed brother, and in my heart forever.

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