WARRACK, David Bruce

WARRACK, David Bruce

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of David Bruce Warrack at the age of 71 years. Bruce passed away peacefully in his home on January 27, 2016 with Gwen, his beloved wife of 52 years by his side, after a brief battle with cancer. He was a loving father of three sons Jeff (Christine), Ron (Kelly) and Sonny (Michelle) of Cheadle and his daughter Jo-Anne Barrett (Mike) of Calgary. He was grandfather to 16 grandchildren, Russel, Rachel, Erin and Jack Warrack, Danny (Vanessa) Warrack, Katelyn Haffner (Mike) and Derek and Jill Warrack, Jake, Meg, Jemma, and Ray Warrack and Ashley, Amy, Ben and Brooke Barrett, and a great-grandfather of four, Cash Colpoys, Ella Haffner, and Peyton and Maci Warrack. They affectionately called him “Bobba”, “Bob”, Papa, or “B Dub”and he cared deeply about each and every one of them. He took extreme pride in how he could rattle off everyone’s birthdays and he would eagerly engage them in meaningful conversations at every opportunity. Bruce is also survived by his sister Linda Farris of Vancouver and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Jack and Edna Warrack and two brothers Robert and Melvin Warrack.

Bruce was born on August 20, 1944 and raised on his parents’ farm east of Cheadle, Alberta. He attended school in Strathmore and at Mount Royal College in Calgary. In 1963, he married a “gal a few hundred fence posts down the road”, Gwen Jones. Bruce and Gwen were the grandchildren of pioneers, who all settled their farms in the early 1900’s in the Cheadle and Langdon districts and they were proud to carry on that legacy. In 1966, Bruce and Gwen started “Bruce Farms Ltd” which became their life’s passion and had the privilege of watching it grow into the strong multi-generational family business it is today.

Bruce was dedicated to his family, and passionate about the land, cattle and things that endure. He was a great observer of life and people and he understood many things about nature, and human nature that few learn from books. A respected businessman and farmer in the community, he impacted everyone he met and inspired people with his strong character, honesty, wit and wisdom.

He was a quietly generous man, helping many friends and neighbors, even in the middle of the night, knowing they could always call on him for help. He was always willing to listen, offering his advice and words of encouragement to motivate people to go that extra mile in all things, which was certainly a value he practiced himself throughout life.

It is fitting that one of Bruce’s last wishes was to be privately cremated with his ashes to be scattered out on the farm that he loved, after the crop is sown this spring and the land is greening.

At Bruce’s request, a “Just passing through” celebration will be held at the Cheadle Hall on Friday June 10th, 2016 at 4:30pm.