We regret to advise of the death of Warrant Officer Robert Joseph “Bob” Clute, CD (Ret’d) of Newmarket ON, suddenly of a heart attack on Saturday, 18 April 2020 at 52 years of age.
Bob enlisted in 1987 and initially served with the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR). During his time with Charles Company, 1 RCR, in London ON, he spent a lot of time away on various field exercises that included trips to Denmark, Norway, and Exercise RV 87. He remustered to the Topographical Surveyor trade and joined Mapping & Charting Establishment (MCE) in Ottawa ON in 1989. On completion of his new trade qualification, Bob was posted to Topographic Squadron and joined Field Survey Troop. Bob spent time there on survey tasks including Op BOUGERS (above the 66th parallel) in1991 and 1993, and the Comox Instrument Landing System Airfield Survey. Following this work and completion of his QL6A course, Bob served a tour with Digital Production Squadron.
From 1995- 2004, Bob deployed several times: UNPROFOR (United Nations Protection Force) in Zagreb, Croatia (1995), KFOR (Kosovo Force) in Donja Koretica, Kosovo (1999-2000), then to the Stabilisation Force in Bosnia & Herzegovina in Zgon, Bosnia ( 2003), as well as a Technical Assistance Visit to Camp Julien in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2004. His wealth of experience in terrain analysis, geographic information systems and mapping supplied the field commanders with the required answers at the right time. After these tours, Bob moved to Geomatics Support Squadron.
On promotion to Warrant Officer in 2005, Bob became the School of Military Mapping Unit Training Warrant Officer/Instructor. In this position, he was instrumental in successfully readying Algonquin College for the new pilot QL5A Geomatics Technician course that was to be conducted in a civilian institution.
After his retirement in 2008, Bob moved to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and became well known in the community for his kind heart and good deeds with children and animals. He occasionally returned to Canada and became a set carpenter for several movie productions (including the Sci Fi drama “Dark Matter”) in Toronto for a few summers.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Bob's life will take place at a later date. If desired, memorial donations to the PTSD Association of Canada, the War Amps, or Wounded Warriors. Online condolences may be sent to the funeral home. {khApr2020}
