Bob Tangen

Robert “Bob” Arne Tangen, 83, passed away Thursday, October 5, 2023, at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon.

Bob was born the eighth of eleven children to Arne and Selma Tangen in Swift Current, SK on April 29, 1940. 

Bob’s family lived on a farm near Leinan, SK where he made many fond memories with his parents, siblings, and especially his closest brother, Roger. He attended school in Leinan and Stewart Valley. He married the love of his life, his wife, Violet, on June 23, 1962, in Swift Current and enjoyed 40 years of marriage. Bob and Vi were inseparable – they worked together, played together and raised their family together – always on equal ground.  In 1966, their first child, Shawna arrived. 2 years later, they welcomed their second child, Kevin Robert, into their family. Bob worked hard to make sure they were taken care of and felt loved every day. He lived in Kyle, Lethbridge, and then Saskatoon in his latest stage of life.
 
Bob had many titles: husband, dad, papa, brother, son, friend, Eagle member, entrepreneur, Uncle Bob, and, perhaps his most well-known title, Bobby. Bob loved people – all people. Mostly, he loved making people laugh and having fun with them. Getting Bob to laugh was very rewarding as he would give the biggest, loudest, wholehearted laughs, with tears running down his face, gasping to finish a story between guffaws and relishing in the delight of others. Very few escaped his teasing and fun nature. When he was quiet, you could be assured that he was people watching and would have stories to tell about his observations. 

Bob worked in the Pioneer Co-op Men’s Wear department before opening his own store: Tangen’s Men’s Wear. He had a passion for visiting with and helping people and he was able to do that by dressing people for all occasions. 

Bob loved being outdoors. Maybe that started because of growing up on the farm. Any chance he could get, he would be camping, fishing, doing yard work, or in his later years – just sitting on the deck. He enjoyed his outdoor time, especially in the summer months. His love of the outdoors and his enjoyment of people lead him to manage the Nickle Lake Campground and Park for three seasons after he retired from the store. Bob and Vi were in their element in the Park. After Vi passed, he was grateful to have his brother Roger and sister-in-law Myrna join him there for a season. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Selma, his father, Arne, sisters Audrey, Jeanette, Edith, and Donna, brother Harold, and his wife Violet. 

He is survived by his children Shawna (Rob Jardine), and Kevin Tangen, his grandsons Calum, Duncan, and Jesse, his sisters Faye, Sheila, and Cheryl, and his brothers Roger and Garry, many nieces and nephews, and countless customers who became friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2PM November 2, 2023, at St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church in Swift Current. 

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Paul’s Hospital ICU, who took exceptional care of Dad. Please mention “In Memory of Bob Tangen” and chose “other/ICU” as direction of gift. 
St. Paul's Hospital, 1702 20th Street West in Saskatoon. 
Donate | St. Paul's Hospital Foundation (stpaulshospital.org)

Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home.  For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.

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