John Robert "Bob" Burton

Bob (John Robert) Burton, 92, passed away peacefully at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge on November 25th.

Bob was born on February 6, 1933, in Oakville, Ontario to John and Maude Burton (Prosser). Survived by his beloved wife Joan Paget, Joan’s daughters Sara-Lynn (John) and Kathy May (Brian), along with granddaughters Hannah and Ruth (Riley), great-grandson Beau and his nieces and nephew in the United States.

Bob was a graduate of Queens University, where he studied engineering. A highway engineer, Bob designed some of the best roadways in eastern Ontario. He later came to Bracebridge to manage the iconic clock tower building, owned by the Burton family for decades. Bob modernized the interior of the building, creating space for local businesses and Bracebridge’s first laundromat.

The cottage Bob built with his parents on Lake Roseau was his sanctuary. On a sunny day he would go for a paddle up the river in his canoe and, when it was overcast, Bob could be found enjoying a cup of hot cocoa at the Bent River Cafe.

A diehard Leafs and Bluejays fan, Bob’s passion for sports was second only to his love for birds. Bob was an avid birder and a former president of the Muskoka Field Naturalists. Concerned about the declining blue bird population in Muskoka, Bob began building and installing blue bird boxes along fences in the region in the 1970s. For over 40 years, with help from the naturalists and the greater community, Bob maintained hundreds of boxes that helped to restore Muskoka’s blue bird population.

A private and humble man, Bob would have been the last person to boast about the numerous awards given to him for his tireless work and generosity in the community.

Generous, decent and a gentle man, Bob will be deeply missed by his family, friends and community.

A gathering of friends and family will be held in Bob's honour at Reynolds Funeral Home in Bracebridge on December 5th, from 11am to 1pm.

In his honour, donations may be made to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.