Rod (Rodney) Frank Williams

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Rod (Rodney) Frank Williams of Fort Assiniboine, Alberta on February 22, 2022 at the age of 65 years old.  He will be lovingly remembered by family and friends.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Jodi Williams nee Fraser of 43 years. Their children  Scott, Brian and JennyLynn (Launa, Ella, Lydia, and Axle). Katrina and Clinton Nielsen (Talitha, Lukas, Annaliess, and Savannah). Russell and Robin (Abbiejean, and Parker).   He will also be greatly missed by siblings Doris (Ron), Julie (Ted), Lily, Larry (Irene), Lonny (Janine), Glen, Lance. His brother-in-law Blaine (Sherry). His mother-in-law Joyce as well as numerous extended family members - too many to list. Those who have gone before include father-in-law Don. Parents Sid and Norma. Brother Darryl, Brother-in-law Mac, and Sister-in-law Gail.

A small family celebration of life will be held at a future date.

On behalf of our family we would like to thank everyone for their condolences. We have received countless phone calls, texts, messages, meals, visits, thoughts, and prayers.  They have been so comforting during this difficult time, and have been a reminder of the impact Rod had on so many. We already miss your smile, your voice, your jokes, and your hugs. We miss you.

Rod was born in Barrhead Alberta on September 15, 1956. He was the 6th of 9 children born to Sid and Norma Williams. He grew up in a full and busy household with many extended family frequenting their home. In his 65 years he has been known in many roles - son, brother, cousin, nephew, uncle, husband, dad, papa, grandpa, and friend. The stories he told of his childhood and growing up were generally said with a smile on his face. Whether it was recounting the day that he sat on a beehive or how they would put 20 teenagers in the car (and 1 on top) to get from the school down to the Esso for fries. The smile on his face explaining how they were piled in the car in layers made us laugh.  We chuckled many times over the years of the picture taken when two of his sisters braided his hair and he was held in place for the photo. He spoke of his family lovingly and sure gave the impression that although they had some hard times, they had each other's backs and their family had a lot of warmth and joy growing up.  Rod attended school in Fort Assiniboine. From a young age he loved skidooing, dirt biking, water skiing, and hunting. He enjoyed spending time out trapping in the Moosewallow sandhills with buddies. Starting from a very young age he gained a lifelong love of fishing and boating.

He met his sweetheart, Jodi, at the youth centre in Fort Assiniboine. Rod caught Jodi’s eye with his good looks, sense of humour, and his fast sled. They were eventually married on June 24th, 1978 in Barrhead Alberta. After they spent a year in Hinton, they made Fort Assiniboine their home. They built two homes together. A cabin in 1982, and as the family expanded they built their current home in 1984. Their home became a second home to many, whether it was friends of the kids, teenagers in need, or missionaries far from their own homes.  As a Dad he certainly wasn’t perfect, however there was a lot of love and laughter in our home too. Like the day the boys were sure they could out run him. He waited at the top of the stairs and let them get ¾ of the way across the yard before he started. He still won the race.

Throughout Rod’s life he wore many working hats including gardening, farm hand, coal mining, logging, working for numerous sawmills,  laboring in the oil field, and operating heavy equipment. The past 20 years he has spent much time working with Wallis Brothers Construction, and farming in his “off hours”. The kids remember spending hours sitting at the table while he filled out his time sheets for the day and would explain what he did at each site - “dug a hole, a pipe was put in and he filled the hole”. So many times that is how he would explain his day. A simple conversation made it easier to work on his time sheets while they were chatting.  The family did more road trips than destination trips that often included stopping at scenic sites, and collecting rocks. He passed that love of rock collecting and skipping rocks on to children and grandchildren. After the kids were grown their travels expanded to include trips to Utah,  Alaska cruise, and a holiday in Paris, France.

Rod was just 50 yrs old when he was diagnosed with an aneurysm disease which led to several surgeries, and an adjusted way of work in hopes of reaching retirement age or as he called it “free fishing age”. He enjoyed the outdoors, and being with family and friends; always trying to get together for a wiener roast or bonfire. As night fell he must have pointed to the north star, big dipper, and little dipper thousands of times. He loved to stand out in the yard and talk about the stars. Rod shared his love of nature and wildlife, enjoying teaching moments with everyone who would listen. He enjoyed pointing out bats and moths, looking for deer and moose, and trying to catch elusive photos of the bears. Being with family was important to him, and he showed it! He loved to connect with the grandkids through fishing, quadding, ice cream treats, movie nights, ferry trips, boat rides, throwing rocks by the boat launch, family dinners, late night shopping and many other memories that they will hold dear.

“What I’d give if I could say “Hello Dad” in the same old way. To hear his voice and see his smile, to sit with him and chat for a while. So if your father is still here, cherish him with care, for you’ll never know the heartache until you see his empty chair.”