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Peskett, Robert James

Robert was born on July 1, 1925 in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba and passed away at his home in Surrey on June 6, 2009. He worked at a variety of temporary or part-time jobs throughout his life, but these were simply a means to an end: his true passion was tennis. An excellent student and athlete, Bob, as he was known to his many friends and tennis competitors, didn't discover the game until he was twenty-one years old. Despite that late start, he soon rose to be one of the top singles players in British Columbia. He enjoyed driving, whether it was a taxicab, a delivery truck, a shuttle bus, or his car with a trunk filled with tennis and other sporting equipment. His travels took him throughout the Western United States and Canada in pursuit of tennis tournaments and countless friendly matches. In later years, he was a frequent volunteer at a wide variety of sporting and other community events in the Vancouver area. Rob, which is the name his family used, was predeceased by three siblings, Jack, Gwen, and Phyliss. He is survived by his sister-in-law Marilyn of Prince George and her daughter Jacqueline and sons James and Gordon and their families; half-sister Alice of La Habra, California; half-brother Ken of Napa, California and his daughters Kelsie, Maureen, and Jacqueline; and many cousins and friends who found his smile and sense of humor to be as quick as his crosscourt volley. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 3 at 4:00pm in the Kiwanis Park Place Recreation Room, 12850 26 Avenue, Surrey, BC (604-538-9669). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a ministry in which Rob actively served: the Gracepoint Community Church Community Dinner (3487 King George Hwy, Surrey, BC, V4P 1B7; www.gracepoint.ca), or to the youth sports program of your choice.