Obituary of Robert Joudrey

Robert E. Joudrey The Fiddlin' Farmer Due to the winter storm, the funeral time has been changed to 11am Thursday March 3rd, 2005. Same location. Of Lower Northfield, Lunenburg County, passed away peacefully at his home in Lower Northfield on Saturday, February 26, 2005. Born in Lower Northfield, he was a son of the late Robert Clyde and Beatrice Mabel (Fancy) Joudrey. After receiving a fiddle from his grandmother, Robert started playing in his mid-teens. Learning his skills by listening to Don Messer’s radio program, he soon started to play at dances, hoedowns, and jamboree’s winning many Old Time Fiddling Contests, trophies and the hearts of his listeners and fellow musicians. When Robert was not busy working on his small beef farm in Lower Northfield, he was usually busy playing his fiddle. That is why they called him the “Fiddlin’ Farmer”. He had composed over 110 tunes as well as about a dozen songs. Many of these tunes were compiled in his 2 books of music as well as heard on his CD “Barn Dance Fiddling”. This showed the love he had for Lunenburg County and it’s rich heritage and the people with whom he shared it all whenever he had the chance. Robert’s fiddle tunes were recorded by some well known musicians. Some of which include Ivan Hicks, Buddy MacMaster, Natalie MacMaster, Tony Burtnik and Jennifer Roland. Some of his tunes were also played by Don Messer years ago on CFCY Radio. In October of 1983, he began his annual Harvest Moon Jamboree and Pumpkin Show which became a crowd favourite earning funds for local fire departments. Another popular show was his annual Springtime Country Music Jamboree. Robert always used every opportunity to showcase the talents of young up and coming musicians. On February 23rd, 2005, Lieutenant Governor, Myra Freeman bestowed honours to the Fiddlin’ Farmer in Lower Northfield and also did a stepdance for him. Thank-you to Elvis Ernst for arranging to have him honoured. Robert is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Meisner); daughters, Ann (Tremayne) Nauss; Sweetland; Beth (Lyndon) Uhlman, Pine Grove; 3 grandchildren, Jordan and Logan Nauss; Chelsea Uhlman; brother, Arnold, Lower Northfield; sister, Helen (Lawrence) Bruhm, Cookville; numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, David in 1999. Visitation will be held Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9pm in Sweeny’s Funeral Home, Bridgewater. Funeral service will be held 11am Tuesday in St. Andrews Lutheran Church, West Northfield, Rev. Ginny Cookman officiating. Burial will follow in the Maple Grove Cemetery, West Northfield. Family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lunenburg County Branch of the VON; St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Lunenburg County Ground Search and Rescue or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.