Bruce Lloyd Bruyere
March 23, 1930 – October 13, 2006
It is with much sorrow that our family announces the passing of Bruce Bruyere on Friday, October 13, 2006 at La Verendrye Hospital.
Dad was born on March 23, 1930 in Fort Frances, Ontario to Alfred and Esther Bruyere.
He attended St. Marguerite’s Residential School on Couchiching First Nation, and at the age of fifteen began working for J.A. MathieuSawmill. Later, he was employed by Paul A. Laurence Company, and then hired by Boise Cascade (Insulite Division) in International Falls, MN, retiring in 1985 with 32 years of service.
He was an avid sports fan. An active participant in both hockey and baseball, he was a member of the Mando Hockey team and the Couchiching First Nations baseball team, playing first base as well as back-up pitcher. Later, he coached the men’s baseball team. In 1961, he was awarded the Tom Longboat Trophy “for the most outstanding Native Indian Athlete of the Year in Canada” for his involvement in sports.
As well as sports, he enjoyed hunting, fi shing, gardening, trapping, photography, camping, reading, and spending family times together. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes parish.
In 1957, he was united in marriage to Shirley McPherson. They raised 6 children. Leanne (Jeff) Paulson, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Susan (Alfonz) Koncan, Winnipeg, MB; Christine (Mike) Krueger, Fort Frances; his two sons; Todd (Cathy) Bruyere, Fort Frances, Ont., and Blake Bruyere, Couchiching FN.
He was Poppy to 10 grandchildren; Frances and Tony Koncan, Lauren and Morgan Krueger, Charalyn and Mikayla Bruyere, Jordan, Katelyn, and Joelle Bruyere.
He is also survived by two brothers, Kenneth (Annie) Bruyere, and Gerald Bruyere, both of Couchiching FN and daughter-in-law, Kelly Bowes of Cookstown, Ont.
He was predeceased in 1998 by his son James Lloyd and in 1992 by infant grandson, Kevin Koncan as well as his parents, Alfred and Esther (Sinclair) Bruyere; sisters, Bertha, Gertrude, Ruth, and Lorraine; brothers, Edward, Phillip, Leonard, Claude; and two infant brothers, Ronald and Steven.
A funeral mass was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Wednesday morning October 18, 2006, followed by burial in the parish cemetery.
Honourary pallbearers were Tony Koncan, Jordan Bruyere, Gary Bruyere, Arleigh Bruyere, Clint Bruyere, John Supinski, and Ernie Bruyere.
If friends so wish, donations can be made to the Kenora-Rainy River Lung Association or to Riverside Health Care Facility.
ECCLESIASTES (3:1-4)
For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven;
A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh
A time to mourn, and time to dance…
We will miss you Poppy
