Robyne's Dad (Bob Hunt) passed away on Tuesday morning after a lifetime of challenges and obstacles. I don't know if I've ever met anyone who has had to endure more than this great man. He always took everything in stride, and worried more about how others were doing than himself.It has been our privilege for about eighteen years to have Bob either live with us or during the past few years very close to us in assisted living. He has been there to help us raise our daughters, to keep the garbage men in place (many stories about him straightening them out), or help anyone in need. We've loved having him live with us and our lives have been richly blessed by his influence, kidness, concern and his infectious smile.
Robyne has tenderly cared for him during this time, especially these past eight weeks as he has been under Hospice care. It hasn't been easy for her the juggle the demands of being a wife, mother, friend, etc. but she has tenderly cared for him. She has been the perfect example of "Honoring her Father & Mother" as the Ten Commandments instruct us. There have been many trips to the hospital (I'm guess at least five a year...Alta View Emergency knew us well), more doctor appointments than I could count, two a.m. phone calls wondering what time it was, four a.m. phone calls asking when he should be ready for a ten a.m. appointment, unplanned grocery store runs to pick up Ruby Red-Tangerine juice, garlic croutons and rubbing alchol (another story) etc., etc.
Bob loved Christmas and usually called us around 3:00-4:00 on Christmas morning to see if we were ready to start. You should begin seeing a pattern beginning that he generally was up most of the night and slept in the day alot! He was so excited to see the girls open their presents and just as excited opening his. Even while living in Assisted Living we would go get him and bring him over to open Christmas presents. We will greatly miss his physical presenence on Christmas morning, but know his spirit will always be there with us. Sure wish his spirit could clean up the wrapping paper and break down the boxes (another one of the jobs he did).
Bob's life was that of a humble servant who suffered much and complained little. I've always thought that Bob and the Old Testament Prophet Job had a lot in common. They both suffered many trials and obstacles, but they faithfully kept going and have received a great reward. Bob's final moments were while getting his daily bath from a hospice aide (Kim) who so lovingly cared for him. She noticed tears in his eyes and said that she hoped those were tears of joy. They must of have been as he smiled at her and then took his last breath! I'm confident that smile was in response to seeing so many that he loved and who have gone before him.
His obituary is on-line at: http://www.legacy.com/saltlaketribune/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=121512987 or at www.holbrookmortuary.com.
Thanks Bob for being such a vital part of our lives and raising such a great daughter who we call wife and mother. Thanks Robyne for showing us what it means to love unconditionally and serve unselfishly...we all love you (especially me).
