January 11, 1956 – June 9, 2025

With a cold beer waiting for him and likely a fish already on the line, Robert Wayne Woobeck – known to everyone as “Woody” – passed away peacefully on Monday, June 9, 2025, after a short but brave battle with cancer. True to form, he left us on his own terms: with grit and a smart-ass joke.

Born in Belleville, Ontario, Woody was raised by Clinton and Jeaninne Woodbeck. He leaves behind his brothers Vernon and Joe; his children Jeremy (Holly) and Jamie (Ben); and three grandkids – Cooper, Chloe, and Callie.

Woody’s life was one of hard-work, humour, and of course, a good time. After heading west to Calgary in his early twenties to apprentice as a glazier, he met Brenda and the two soon married. Their first child, Jeremy, arrived shortly after. Woody and Brenda decided city life was too much and craved the quiet reprieve of a mountain lake and a small town. The family then settled in Creston, BC, where Woody built friendships as strong as his glasswork—most notably with his lifelong buddy Grant, bonded through a shared love of camping, fishing, and Canadian beer.

When their daughter Jamie was born, they moved once again—this time to Oliver, BC—where Woody planted deep roots. He worked at General Coach and then Mike’s Auto before launching his own business, the legendary Woody’s Glass. For over 20 years, he patched windshields, replaced windows, and built a solid reputation one pane at a time, always with a joke in his back pocket and the kind of work ethic you just can’t teach.

For years Woody was a proud member of the Oliver Fire Department and he was also a force on the mound in the Oliver Men’s Fastball League. But he wasn’t all work and no play. Quite the opposite—he was often the loudest laugh around the campfire, the first one to crank up the music, and the last one to leave the party. Whether belting out tunes with an acoustic guitar or delivering his famous “Rindercella” recital, Woody was happiest when he was entertaining.

He wasn’t a man of fancy things, but if you asked him, he had it all: a tight circle of loyal friends (Sandy, Doc, Brad, Kim, Tim and Don), a fishing rod always within reach, and stories that got better every time he told them. His passions were simple but rich — camping, fishing, motorcycles, a cold beer on a hot day, and time spent with the people who knew him best.
He was happiest in the middle of a lake, a fish on the line, sun on his face, and something witty (or wildly inappropriate) on the tip of his tongue. Woody wasn’t one to travel the world, he preferred humble trips closer to home but when he did travel his idea of a lavish holiday was a no-frills all- inclusive Mexican resort, with a bottle of tequila never far from reach.

Woody will be remembered as a loving, hard-working, and damn funny father, brother, and friend. He leaves behind more memories than most could make in two lifetimes, and his absence will echo through the hills of Oliver, the lakes he fished, and every good story told around a campfire.

Raise a glass of tequila, crank the tunes, and tell a tall tale in his honour — it’s exactly what he would’ve wanted.

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com