Robert Stewart

Robert Brockie STEWART

RELIGION - Presbyterian

Born July 16th 1935 in Bellfield, Sydney, Australia; the youngest of four children. Robert grew up in the Sydney suburbs of Lakemba and Revesby.

His father was a merchant seaman from Greenock, Scotland; a Boilermaker by trade and mother was born in Australia to Irish parents. She did some retail sales work with department stores, but the majority of time she was a stay-at-home mum caring for the four children.

SIBLINGS - Eldest, brother - Alec (deceased)
Second, sister - Leila (resides in Sydney, Australia)
Third, sister - Susan (resides on the New South Wales Central Coast, Australia)

Rob left high school in approximately 1951 - (aged 16) to take up a job with a Newspaper Company in Sydney.

1953 - (aged 18) his father passed away and not long after he joined the Royal Australian Navy as an Able Seaman to undertake his National Service.

1954 - Rob was selected as one of the Honour Guards for Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Australia. During that duty he escorted the Queen to Canberra to dedicate a monument to American GIs of World War II.

1955 - following completion of his National Service he took up an Apprenticeship as a Typewriter Mechanic.

1957 - at the tender age of 22 met his first wife Janice Wright and were married by December of that year.

March 1959 - saw their first child born, Stephen Brockie STEWART (known as Steve to the family)

1961 - They moved to outback NSW for Rob to take up some work as a land clearer and dam construction worker, operating caterpillar and other construction vehicles.

April 1963 - their second son, Robert Andrew STEWART was born (known as Andy). When he moved back to Sydney, Rob took up a job in a gas station involving general service and repairs of motor vehicles - he in fact was a fully self-taught mechanic.

1964 - he moved into a clerical position with a water treatment company.

May 1964 - their third and final child, a girl, Fiona Louise STEWART was born.

1968 - After renting for several years, Rob purchased their first family home in the Sydney suburb of Brookvale.

1975 - Rob left the Water Treatment Company after 11 long years service and purchased a newsagency in the Sydney beachside suburb of Manly.

1976 - The newsagency was sold and a cleaning business purchased. Additionally, Rob and his first wife, Janice, divorced.

1979 - Sold the family home at Brookvale and the cleaning business and decided to move in with his elderly mother at her family home in inner western Sydney suburb of Revesby to care for her. He also obtained work with the local Council.

1982 - Minnie met Rob, by chance, in Australia. Minnie had intended to remodel her kitchen, but a friend, Ester Russel, convinced her to go on an ITC Toastmistress trip to Australia instead. The kitchen never was remodeled, but came to contain Rob.

1983 - saw a second trip for Minnie to Australia and it seemed destined to be.

1984 - Rob and Minnie were married at St Andrews Church, Sydney with the reception at the Sydney Masonic Club. After much deliberation it was decided that the best place for them to settle was back in the USA so Rob packed up and moved to Denver.

Sept 17th 1999 - Rob became a naturalized American Citizen.

In the ensuing years in America, Robert and Minnie toured Mexico and traveled extensively in the United States. They spent several months traveling American roads in an RV, introducing Rob to his new country and new relatives.

Robert is survived by his spouse, Minnie W. Stewart, sons Stephen Stewart and Andrew Stewart, daughter Fiona Stewart,

INTERESTS

* 'long-term' Mason - involved with the Masonic Clubs both in Australia and USA
* Played Australian Rules Football when working in outback NSW in early 1960's.
* Played Soccer during school years.
* Had a passion for motorbikes and owned several bikes in his time. His first bike being an English built 'Vincent' which was his pride and joy during his early riding years.

Australian Grandchildren:

Matthew and Sally (son and daughter of Steve and Virginia)
Joel and Nathan (sons of Andrew and Kim)
Chloe and Emma (daughters of Fiona and her first husband Fred)
Lauren and Allan (daughter and son of Fiona and current husband Michel)

US Grandchildren:

Chad and Tamia (son and daughter of Gloria and Charlie)
Xia & Xadee (daughters of Tamia, great grandchildren of Rob)
Dani (daughter of Gloria and current husband David)
Whitney (daughter of John and Cindy)