Robert ‘Rob’ Peter John Van der Velden passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2023, in the presence of his loving wife, at the age of 74 years. Born in Eindhoven, Netherlands on August 29, 1948, Rob’s family emigrated to Canada in 1953, first settling in Drumheller, and then Calgary, Alberta. After graduating High School, Rob headed to SAIT with the intent of becoming an aircraft mechanic, but was detoured toward drafting instead, which led him to his thirty-three-year long career with ATCO Gas, first as a draftsman and later as a Gas Fitter and Serviceman. It was at ATCO in Calgary that Rob was to meet his wife, Rosalie, as the two young employees shyly admired one another across the hall at work, until he finally asked her on their first date. In 1974 Rob and Rosalie were married, they bought their first home in Calgary and enjoyed renovating together. In 1981, Rob and Rosalie welcomed their son, Jonathan, and their daughter, Laura, followed in 1983 just before the family moved to the town of Innisfail, Alberta, where Rob had accepted a new position with ATCO at the Innisfail Agency. While planning for his retirement from ATCO in 2004, Rob decided on a retirement job in aircraft mechanics, working contentedly at Air-Spray for the next seventeen years; it was important to Rob that he engaged in meaningful work, and he retired only a few months before his passing. Rob was an avid fan of all things resembling “planes, trains, and automobiles,” an avid reader, and a builder of anything and everything, from vintage wood-frame kayaks, car engines, detailed model railroads, a WW2 biplane (the Nieuport 17), and most recently, a hand-crafted nineteen-foot wooden tugboat which he named the ‘Amazing Grace’. More than all these things, Rob was a devoted father, husband, and grandpa. Even in the wake of a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2019, Rob remained a steadfast support for his family through the ups and downs, and he did everything he could to ensure that his family would be okay when he had to leave. Throughout his life, Rob held tightly to his faith in Christ, casting his cares on the God who promised to sustain him in life and in death. As he entered his final years and days, Rob experienced an increasing yearning to fall at Jesus’ feet in gratitude for the “amazing grace” he had experienced. In this same faith, his family entrust him to the Lord as we mourn his death, until we are together again. Rob is lovingly remembered by his faithful wife of forty-nine years, Rosalie Isabella Van der Velden (nee Schmidtke), his son, Jonathan (Jennifer) and their children, Kaitlyn, Teagan, Sawyer, and Spencer Van der Velden, as well as his daughter, Laura (Cole Jordan) and their son, Leo Robert Jordan. Rob is also lovingly remembered by his younger brother, Edmund Van der Velden, sister-in-law, Sharron Van der Velden, and sister, Joyce Van der Velden, along with nieces, nephews, and extended family members and Rosalie’s siblings and their families. He was predeceased by his mother, Levina Van der Velden (nee Huijerman), and his father, John Van der Velden. A Celebration of Rob's Life will be held at the Innisfail Church of the Nazarene, 4904 - 48 Street, Innisfail, Alberta on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations may be made to the Central Alberta Cancer Centre at 3942 50a Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6R2 or at www.albertacancer.ca, Donations may also be made to the Red Deer Hospice Society at 99 Arnot Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 3S6 or at www.reddeerhospice.com. The family would like to give their sincere gratitude to these communities for the care they provided to Rob in these last years and days. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006