BRUCE WESLEY HANDFORD

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

BRUCE WESLEY HANDFORD Bruce Wesley Handford was born August 24, 1950 and died July 15, 2011. He leaves to mourn his wife, Johanna (nee Wiens); stepdaughter Elizabeth (Bruce Greenaway); stepson David Ross; and granddaughter Samantha. He was predeceased by his parents, Norval and Gwendolyn Handford and is survived by his seven siblings: Alexa, Allan (Diane), Janice, Russell (Jocelyne), Brenda (Fred Parr), Chuck (Dee) and Larry (Teresa); also by his mother-in-law Nancy; by Johanna's nine siblings and many nieces and nephews on both sides. Bruce was born at the old Grace Hospital in Winnipeg. The family moved to Northern Alberta in 1950 and later to Edmonton where he started school. They returned to Winnipeg in 1958 and moved to the farm in Snowflake in 1961. This early gypsy life-style developed what became the adventurous way of his later life. Bruce mastered the art of debate at a young age, and would debate any side of any subject as long as anyone would listen and even after they stopped listening. Coming from a large family you have to be competitive and no one was more competitive than Bruce. He loved playing and following all sports - baseball, football, hockey. He was a consummate Blue Bomber fan. We hope they play baseball or Bocce in heaven and that Bruce has been drafted to a winning team. Bruce left the farm in 1968 to attend university but decided that wasn't the right thing for him at the time and he moved to Thompson to work during the heydays of Inco development. In 1970, Bruce began an association with St. John's Cathedral Boy's School that would last for 20 years. A natural teacher and coach, he completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics, and a Bachelor of Education while working there. He was able to inspire paddlers, snowshoers, and runners with his own physical stamina and to encourage their prowess as well. During these years his leadership qualities grew, as did his Christian faith. Bruce spent from 1990 to the present working in the field of adult education variously at the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre, YES Canada, the Transcona Learning Centre, and during semi-retirement, at Workplace Essential Skills and Training, preparing electricians for the Interprovincial Examination. He was enjoying rural life on his acreage in East St. Paul and cultivated the best garden of all this summer. Bruce was a member of St. Margaret's Anglican Parish, Winnipeg. He had a reasoned and loyal faith and served the Church in many capacities. He saw what could be the best in others and worked to draw it out. His large family, his students and many friends knew his generous, patient nature and sense of humour. They appreciated the dogged stubborn streak that made things happen. He went from us too soon and will be missed terribly. Funeral observances will be held at St. Margaret's Church, at the corner of Westminster Avenue and Ethelbert Street on Thursday, July 21 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Margaret's Parish Education Fund or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 18, 2011