Bob Herman MUNNIK

Bob Herman Munnik was born on March 3, 1947 in Hengelo, the Netherlands. He died on April 4, 2026 at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

He lived a good life but had been increasingly unwell over the last few years, and he spent his last two weeks in hospital with complications after a fall. His family was able to be near him, including his loving wife Gina (Russell); his son Daniel and granddaughter Trinity, who live in Nanaimo; and his son Michael, daughter-in-law Katie, and grandchildren Leo and Tait, who live in Cardiff, UK, and Isla, who lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Bob is fourth of six children to Hermanus Munnik and Janna (Middelkoop) Munnik. He is predeceased by his brothers Hans, Paul, and Ronald and survived by brother Len and sister Riet. All live or lived in the Netherlands.

Bob trained as a chef and came to Canada in 1970, first working in the kitchen of the Banff Springs Hotel, where he met Gina. They married in 1971 and lived and raised their family in Calgary, Alberta and, from 1990, Nanaimo, BC. Bob came to the Island to set up a picture frame store, and he worked in framing until last year, first as a store owner, then as a framing supplies sales representative on the Island, and finally doing framing out of the house, while he returned to his first career. He was chef and then head chef at Lakeside Gardens seniors residence.

Besides food and framing, Bob loved photography and videography, volunteering for several years with Shaw Cable. He also became an avid curler, joining Nanaimo Curling Club in his retirement. From 1991 to 1997, he was secretary and then president of the Nanaimo Arts Council and led the project that brought the Tozan pottery kiln to the grounds of Malaspina College, now Vancouver Island University.

Bob was a longstanding member at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Nanaimo, and he served as Sunday School superintendent and as an elder and session clerk. He gave his skills here as part of the church’s audio-visual team and also organising cooking for church suppers, the Men’s Breakfast, and community lunches for people in the wider community who need a hot meal and some company.

He is dearly loved and known for his laughter and sense of humour. He will be remembered at a celebration of life at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Nanaimo on Friday April 10 at 2:30pm.

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