Dr. Robert Abell

Dr. Robert Abell, "Bob", age 91, born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, passed away Oct. 15, 2012 in Lehigh Acres, FL at Hope Hospice. Dr. Abell's parents, Caroline Nowack and Jack Abell, were telegraphers, (Morse code) met in Menominee Michigan and then worked at stations on the Canadian railroad system. He had four brothers and one sister, all served in the Canadian Armed Forces during WWll. Dr. Abell excelled in ice hockey and he was scouted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead, Dr. Abell chose to enlist in the Canadian Army. He looked so young that when he was promoted to Captain he grew a mustache to appear older. He was wounded in action in Holland and was medevac'd to a London hospital for a six month recovery where he learned to walk and talk again. After the war, Dr. Abell decided to pursue his love of animals and enrolled in the Ontario Veterinary College, at the University of Guelph in Ontario. He graduated as President of his class and did his internship in central Illinois. He started his large animal practice in Chrisman, IL and was also the mayor in Chrisman for two terms. As the years went by, he moved into small animal practice and relocated to Chicago. He retired in 1982 and relocated to Lehigh Acres, FL. Dr. Abell and his wife, Mary (McGuire), had four children, Mary Ellen (Fred Moore), Tom (deceased), Helen (Richard Neary) and Sara; they have five grandchildren, Joshua, Erin (Randy), Richard (Sandy), Sarah (Michael)and Matt; their 11 great grandchildren are Jacob, Tony and Jocelyn Parsons, Keegan, Jordy and Luke Neary, Reese and Payton Abell and Eli, Nate and Joshua Bacon. After Mary's passing, Dr. Abell was fortunate enough to find love again with Annie (McGuire). Dr. Abell and Annie were married in a double ceremony in Las Vegas in 1995 with his daughter Mary Ellen and Fred Moore. Dr. Abell and Annie enjoyed being at the family cottage in Kingston, Ontario every summer up until 2008. Bob also enjoyed fishing, golfing and and playing bridge, always lamenting his lousy hands. He could build anything and everything. After retiring to Lehigh, he judged the pets at the Lehigh Spring Festival and was called upon by local veterinarians to perform ruptured ACL surgery on dogs. He continued to enjoy fishing which was followed by cleaning his catch and preparing fabulous fish dinners which always included in the Abell tradition, pork and beans and new red potatoes. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Michael Tucker who took such good care of Dad for so many years and who always got him to the proper specialists when necessary. In addition, we would like to thank all the staff at Lehigh Health and Rehab for their diligent care and support over the last few months. Rebecca, Roosevelt and Marie from Just Like Family provided Dad with additional comfort. We will always appreciate Dr. Paula at Gulf Coast Medical Center for guiding us to Hospice. Dad's final days at Hope Hospice in Lehigh were such a special gift. The comfort he and the family felt cannot be described in words. At Dr. Abell's request there will be no services. At a later date some of his ashes will be scattered over Loughborough Lake, Kingston, ON where as a boy he, and later his children and their children, spent every summer creating the best memories a kid could have. The rest of his remains will be interred at Catarqui Cemetery, Kingston, Ontario with those of his first wife Mary and their son Tom. If you wish, donations may be made to either Lee County Humane Society or to Hope Hospice. Online condolences may be directed to www.nationalcremation.com.