Obituary for Bruce Sloane
Bruce Sloane
Thursday, April 19, 1945 - Sunday, August 1, 2021
On August 1, 2021 Bruce Sloane set sail on his final adventure. Over his 76 years of life, he taught us many life lessons.
Bruce was predeceased by his younger brother Stephen (Karen). To continue to put his life lessons into practice, he leaves behind his loving wife Aleda of 52 years, his children Andrea (Liberal), Trent (Alysha), his grandsons Vanya and Kirill, his siblings Tom (Lois), Sandra (Mike), Eileen (Brian), many nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and his faithful dog Tinker.
Bruce was a man of many talents. After leaving the farm, he went to Red River Community College to become a mechanical engineering technologist. You might have benefitted from his good work while drinking a Crown Royal from the Seagram’s facility he worked on in Gimli, Manitoba. Bruce worked at MMP, then at UMA, and in 1988 he founded the firm Roberts Sloane and Associates with his partner Alan Roberts. An avid curler, golfer and wind surfer, Bruce took pleasure in sharing his zest for life and learning with others. In that spirit, we would like to share a few stories that capture some of the many things we’ve learned from Bruce over the years.
The oldest of five children, Bruce grew up in Clearwater, Manitoba. His mother, Eleanor, was an artful quilter and crafter who modelled why it was important to try and do things right the first time. His father, Sydney, was the first to teach Bruce how to “wiki stuff up” on the farm. Bruce’s parents were both hardworking and community-minded people so it’s no surprise they raised a son who would give back to his community throughout his life. He raised money to fight Cystic Fibrosis through his work in Kinsmen and as a Rotarian, he was a promoter of the Ripple Effect Project, to raise funds to build schools in Guatemala. Bruce was instrumental in creating the scholarship program for Teen Stop Jeunesse and he volunteered as a mentor in the Peaceful Village Program to help newcomers to Winnipeg practice conversational English. Life Lesson #1: Be of service to others.
One night at Delta, Bruce wandered home from a party at the neighbors. As he approached the cabin we could hear, “Here kitty, kitty.” Those of us who were not in attendance at the, “pour until the ice floats” gathering, could clearly see the white stripe down the back of the “kitty.” Life Lesson #2: If it looks like a cat, and smells like a skunk, don’t pet it.
When packing up the house on Dells, Bruce was adamant about taking an old, used, electric toothbrush holder. Aleda wondered aloud on many occasions, “What the heck are we going to do with this?” Then a few years ago, along came COVID and video conferencing. On their first Zoom call, Aleda placed the iPad against a pile of books. After studying the precarious set up and becoming frustrated with the falling I-pad, Bruce went to his box of treasures and wikied up a stand for the iPad with the electric toothbrush holder. Life Lesson #3: Throw nothing away, you never know when you might need it; this includes old toothbrush holders, twist ties, bicycles with no wheels, bits of driftwood, prescription bottles, “antique” remote controls and a box of rocks.
After attending a white-out Jets play-off game, Bruce burst into the living room to tell us about the incredible crowd action he captured on his cell phone. He must have asked the bartender to, “pour until the ice floats,” because after we opened the video, we were treated to an extreme close-up of his face. He was lit up with excitement but there was not another white shirt to be found in the shot. We were treated to two minutes of Bruce slowly panning his forehead, back and forth. Life Lesson #4: Be familiar with how your phone works or the technology can get away from you.
Bruce had an adventurous spirit. At a port of call in Guatemala, while he was on a cruise with Aleda and friends, he decided there would be enough time to check on the progress of one of the Rotary building projects. He was warned by the captain, and by captain we mean Aleda, to be on time and to take his passport with him in case he was delayed. On his way back to the ship, he encountered some traffic and by the time he arrived at the dock, the ship was underway. Quick witted and determined, he commandeered a pilot boat which took him out to sea. As the ship moved further from shore, members of the crew threw down a rope ladder. Indiana Sloane climbed aboard to the delight of hundreds of passengers while Aleda refilled her wine glass at the bar. Life Lesson #5: Keep calm and climb on.
While on a family cruise, no matter where one of us went on the ship, you’d find Bruce introducing himself to someone at a bar. With a short one of Jameson’s in his hand, strangers became new friends before the third round was poured. After we shared the news of Bruce’s passing, we were overwhelmed with how many messages we received that spoke to his ability to make people feel welcome. He was gifted at making the newest members of a group feel important by showing them in many different ways their stories mattered to him. Life Lesson #6: Open your heart and leave a space at the table for new friends.
We’ve been telling stories to begin to process our profound loss. During one of our Bruce-ism sharing sessions, one of his grandsons said, “We knew we were his whole world because he showed up for every big moment in our lives.” When life got hard for someone he loved, he would focus his mind and heart on a project for them– especially when the person didn’t know they needed to have something levelled, tweaked, wikied up, designed, or built. Life Lesson #7: Love is showing up and doing for others.
Bruce Sloane traveled the world but never found a better sunset than at Delta. At the lake he was most himself and at peace. In his memory, we invite all of you to pour a drink until the ice floats, raise your glass, and hug the ones you love.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bruce's name to the St. Boniface - St. Vital Rotary Club, 181 Kingsway, Winnipeg, MB R3M 0G8; CancerCare Manitoba or ManitobaMutts.org.
Thursday, April 19, 1945 - Sunday, August 1, 2021
On August 1, 2021 Bruce Sloane set sail on his final adventure. Over his 76 years of life, he taught us many life lessons.
Bruce was predeceased by his younger brother Stephen (Karen). To continue to put his life lessons into practice, he leaves behind his loving wife Aleda of 52 years, his children Andrea (Liberal), Trent (Alysha), his grandsons Vanya and Kirill, his siblings Tom (Lois), Sandra (Mike), Eileen (Brian), many nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and his faithful dog Tinker.
Bruce was a man of many talents. After leaving the farm, he went to Red River Community College to become a mechanical engineering technologist. You might have benefitted from his good work while drinking a Crown Royal from the Seagram’s facility he worked on in Gimli, Manitoba. Bruce worked at MMP, then at UMA, and in 1988 he founded the firm Roberts Sloane and Associates with his partner Alan Roberts. An avid curler, golfer and wind surfer, Bruce took pleasure in sharing his zest for life and learning with others. In that spirit, we would like to share a few stories that capture some of the many things we’ve learned from Bruce over the years.
The oldest of five children, Bruce grew up in Clearwater, Manitoba. His mother, Eleanor, was an artful quilter and crafter who modelled why it was important to try and do things right the first time. His father, Sydney, was the first to teach Bruce how to “wiki stuff up” on the farm. Bruce’s parents were both hardworking and community-minded people so it’s no surprise they raised a son who would give back to his community throughout his life. He raised money to fight Cystic Fibrosis through his work in Kinsmen and as a Rotarian, he was a promoter of the Ripple Effect Project, to raise funds to build schools in Guatemala. Bruce was instrumental in creating the scholarship program for Teen Stop Jeunesse and he volunteered as a mentor in the Peaceful Village Program to help newcomers to Winnipeg practice conversational English. Life Lesson #1: Be of service to others.
One night at Delta, Bruce wandered home from a party at the neighbors. As he approached the cabin we could hear, “Here kitty, kitty.” Those of us who were not in attendance at the, “pour until the ice floats” gathering, could clearly see the white stripe down the back of the “kitty.” Life Lesson #2: If it looks like a cat, and smells like a skunk, don’t pet it.
When packing up the house on Dells, Bruce was adamant about taking an old, used, electric toothbrush holder. Aleda wondered aloud on many occasions, “What the heck are we going to do with this?” Then a few years ago, along came COVID and video conferencing. On their first Zoom call, Aleda placed the iPad against a pile of books. After studying the precarious set up and becoming frustrated with the falling I-pad, Bruce went to his box of treasures and wikied up a stand for the iPad with the electric toothbrush holder. Life Lesson #3: Throw nothing away, you never know when you might need it; this includes old toothbrush holders, twist ties, bicycles with no wheels, bits of driftwood, prescription bottles, “antique” remote controls and a box of rocks.
After attending a white-out Jets play-off game, Bruce burst into the living room to tell us about the incredible crowd action he captured on his cell phone. He must have asked the bartender to, “pour until the ice floats,” because after we opened the video, we were treated to an extreme close-up of his face. He was lit up with excitement but there was not another white shirt to be found in the shot. We were treated to two minutes of Bruce slowly panning his forehead, back and forth. Life Lesson #4: Be familiar with how your phone works or the technology can get away from you.
Bruce had an adventurous spirit. At a port of call in Guatemala, while he was on a cruise with Aleda and friends, he decided there would be enough time to check on the progress of one of the Rotary building projects. He was warned by the captain, and by captain we mean Aleda, to be on time and to take his passport with him in case he was delayed. On his way back to the ship, he encountered some traffic and by the time he arrived at the dock, the ship was underway. Quick witted and determined, he commandeered a pilot boat which took him out to sea. As the ship moved further from shore, members of the crew threw down a rope ladder. Indiana Sloane climbed aboard to the delight of hundreds of passengers while Aleda refilled her wine glass at the bar. Life Lesson #5: Keep calm and climb on.
While on a family cruise, no matter where one of us went on the ship, you’d find Bruce introducing himself to someone at a bar. With a short one of Jameson’s in his hand, strangers became new friends before the third round was poured. After we shared the news of Bruce’s passing, we were overwhelmed with how many messages we received that spoke to his ability to make people feel welcome. He was gifted at making the newest members of a group feel important by showing them in many different ways their stories mattered to him. Life Lesson #6: Open your heart and leave a space at the table for new friends.
We’ve been telling stories to begin to process our profound loss. During one of our Bruce-ism sharing sessions, one of his grandsons said, “We knew we were his whole world because he showed up for every big moment in our lives.” When life got hard for someone he loved, he would focus his mind and heart on a project for them– especially when the person didn’t know they needed to have something levelled, tweaked, wikied up, designed, or built. Life Lesson #7: Love is showing up and doing for others.
Bruce Sloane traveled the world but never found a better sunset than at Delta. At the lake he was most himself and at peace. In his memory, we invite all of you to pour a drink until the ice floats, raise your glass, and hug the ones you love.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bruce's name to the St. Boniface - St. Vital Rotary Club, 181 Kingsway, Winnipeg, MB R3M 0G8; CancerCare Manitoba or ManitobaMutts.org.