Robert Dean Canniff

Bob or ‘Pop’, as he was known to his friends and family, was preceded in death by his father Meryl Rowe and mother Evelyn Bright Canniff of Dowagiac, MI, and two of his brothers, Doyle and Marvin.

Surviving are his “Gem” of a wife, Sally Lee of Randolph; Sons, Rob Canniff (Dr. Shannon Epling) of Columbus, OH, Ben Canniff of Jamestown, daughter, Debbie Cline of Frewsburg, and brother Gary Canniff of Atlanta, MI. His ‘extended’ family of children and grandchildren includes Heath McManus and his sons Arin and Elias of Jamestown, Laura Plyler of Albany, NY, and so many others.

Bob was born on July 19, 1943, in Dowagiac, MI. A proud Native American, he joined the Air Force in 1963. He was stationed in Okinawa, Thailand, and London, England. He served a tour in Vietnam. His duties also brought him to Air Force bases in Hawaii, Texas and Plattsburgh, NY.

Upon his Honorable Discharge from the military, he returned to the States and married Sally Cramer on July 8, 1967, and they enjoyed 57 years of marriage together. He retired at the age of 62 from Blackstone/Valeo where he worked as a welder for 38 years.

He was ScoutMaster of Boy Scout Troop 133 in Frewsburg for almost 2 decades with his sons, even after they were no longer involved. He always looked forward to campouts, whether in the pouring rain, which was the usual case, (everyone in Frewsburg said they could predict the weather by when the Scouts were camping), or on the ice when Cuba Lake would freeze over. He was most proud of his son Ben becoming an Eagle Scout. He was in his element teaching camping, canoeing, firebuilding, and all other outdoor living skills to anyone who would listen.

His gruff exterior could easily be melted away with a smart-alec or off-color comment. As Billy Joel sings, “He was quick with a joke, or light of yer smoke.” He was the life of any party and could be the most social of social butterflies.

Bob loved a good story, anecdote, or tall tale and is somewhere sharing those with his brothers and military buddies. He was a Trekkie who loved Science Fiction and old Western movies. Pop’s Star Trek book collection would rival any small-town library’s total number of books. His favorite hobby was tinkering around in his garage.

Per his wishes, there will be no funeral or viewing. He will be cremated at Peterson’s Funeral Home. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.