THORNDYKE, Robert John Thorndyke -
August 5, 1928 – February 19, 2023
Bob was born August 5th in Toronto to Robert James Thorndyke and Flossie Thorndyke and lived in the Toronto, Oshawa, and Brighton areas for most of his life. He passed peacefully at his home in Newcastle on February 19th.
Bob served with the 27th Canadian Infantry Brigade in Germany, later founding several businesses in the trucking and air cargo industries
And he was the holder of seven U.S. and Canadian Patent even making an appearance on the television show ‘Dragon’s Den’. He was a member of the Ontario Trucking Association for decades and was a member of the Free Masons.
In addition to those many accomplishments, his high-energy attitude allowed him to obtain a Multi-Engine Pilot Licence when he was 56 years old, build a hangar at the Oshawa Airport, retrieve a Percival Sea Prince aircraft from England for restoration, and construct a terminal that would later become the Ontario Regiment Museum in Oshawa.
His love of trucking and driving put all four of his sons behind the wheel of highway tractor-trailers and in the seats of race cars. Not to be outdone by them, he was behind the wheel of a race car himself while in his seventies.
Bob is survived by his wife of seventy years, Anni Liesbeth Erika (nee Brandt) and his four sons Robert (Angela), David (Deborah-predeceased), Andrew (Connie) and Wendell (Tammy-predeceased); nine grandchildren, Amber (Mike), Sean (Jen), Tia (Ryan), Tyler (Rachel), Adam (Kattie), Melissa (Tom), Dylan, Cody, Tiffanie (Alex); and ten great-grandchildren James, Elizabeth, Avery, Jackson, Colton, Aubrey, Briar, Chelsea, Charlie, and Blake.
Admired and respected for his kindness, generosity, and sense of humour, he will be missed by all that were fortunate enough to have him in their lives. Bob had a remarkable life that was well-lived as a great husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.
The family extends a special thanks to Amber Thorndyke and Valerie Flieler for their support during his brief illness with pancreatic cancer.
No funeral service is planned at this time.
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