Robert Charles Warry

1936 - 2026

The party is over — and somewhere, Dad is already reorganizing it.

Robert “Bob” Warry passed away February 11, 2026, with all his own teeth — a detail he would insist be included. If you asked him, he was 90.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Dad grew up with two brothers: Douglas (predeceased) and his younger brother Jim, whom he always called “Wer.” At 16, he began apprenticing with Hamilton Bus Lines, earning the nickname “Junior” and graduating top of his class as a mechanic. He loved engines, space, current events, and figuring out how things worked.

He later went on to own the Sunoco service center on Plains Road in Burlington. He was a top salesman and won many trips — Italy, Europe, Bahamas, Barbados, to name a few.

Even though he worked 16 hours a day, Dad always made sure to spend valuable, quality time with us in unique and memorable ways. He built us bikes — Kim’s with a banana seat, Penny’s with working signals — McGyver style. We took pride in our bikes, which Dad made, and cleaned them every weekend. He built a swing out of a piece of wood and chains — big enough for both of us to sit on — in the basement of all places! He would rally football or baseball games on the street with neighborhood kids, make stilts, organize pool parties, and play hide-and-seek in ways no one else would — like turning off all the power in the basement and hiding so well you couldn’t find him. He had so much energy and made our world endlessly fun.

From there the journey took him to Kitchener, where he bought the Embassy Motel on Highway 8. He ran and owned this for over 16 years.

After selling the motel, Mom and Dad moved to a small farm in the village of Millbank. It wasn’t a working farm — it was his kingdom. Room to make his own rules, rent part of the farmhouse, sell some of the lots he owned, and manage his commercial building with storefronts and apartments. He never really retired; he simply changed arenas.

When Mom passed in January 2019, the three of us were devastated — especially Dad. We found ourselves outside, in the dirt, planting vegetables and flowers and talking about building something new. That idea slowly grew into the flower farm we run today. Dad didn’t plant the flowers — but he fixed every trailer, every tool, and anything with a motor. True to his mechanic roots and his inner MacGyver spirit, he kept us running. More than that, he was our biggest champion — proud, encouraging, and always certain we could build something meaningful. He worked right up until the end — driving the Amish and keeping busy every day.

Now we carry that forward — we will keep growing the property, nurturing the flower business, and working in a way that makes him proud.

Dad was a firecracker. Costumes, shenanigans, and a famously modified vehicle used to perfect a corn or pig roast are all part of the legend. He worked hard, played harder, and left an impression wherever he went.

There will be no funeral — that simply wouldn’t be his style. Instead, a private Celebration of Life will be held in the spirit of a Dean Martin–style roast — full of stories, laughter, and a little mischief. During this time, we will honour both Mom and Dad by painting their ashes into a memorial tree on the farm that continues to bloom because of them.

If you received a call from us, please know you are part of this gathering. He’s joining the others now, and the party up there is just getting started.

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