Bill was born in Windthorst, Saskatchewan on March 24, 1932 and on June 12, 2010 he passed away peacefully at home.
Over his 51 years in education, Bill served as a teacher, principal and Superintendent of Schools. He also taught graduate courses in educational administration at four universities – Victoria, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Calgary. And it all began, at age 17, when he took his first teaching position in a one-room school close to his family farm in Manitoba.
His career took him to Manitoba, Alberta, B.C., the Yukon; Germany and St. Lucia. As a lifelong learner, in 1990, he earned a PhD at the University of Alberta.
In 2000, he received an honourary life membership in the Alberta Teachers’ Association, its highest award, for what the ATA described as his tireless energy and enthusiasm for public education.
In 2003 he received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his many contributions to education.
As a young man he played semipro baseball in Manitoba and in 2001 he was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Colleen, constant companion Alpo, brothers Leonard (Shirley), Gerald (Donna) and son Kelly as well as numerous close relatives and friends.
Sincere thanks go to cousin Bruce Paul (Noni, David, Doug) for their constant love and support the past 16 months. Also to Mary and Norm Gidney, the Calgary crew of Purdy, Ross, Craven and Park and longtime friends Bernie and Rose Chandler and Joy Phillips. Special thanks to Dr. H.P. Marshall and the Palliative Response Teams, home care nurse Linda Pearce and support worker Barb.
Donations can be made in Bill’s memory to The Palliative Response Team, Victoria Hospice, 1510 Fort Street, Victoria, V8S 5J2.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on June 26, beginning at 2 p.m. at our home, 404 Proctor Place, Victoria.
52 Responses
Wishing you strength during this very difficult time.
We offer our heartfelt sympathy and may you find comfort knowning that Bill is now at peace. May your memories bring you comfort and time also heal your heart. Janice and Bill
What I’ll remember most about Uncle Bill was his laugh. It was a laugh that shook him with joy, took away his breath and made tears of laughter fall from his eyes.
He lived his life like he laughed – from his heart.
He always loved to tell us a new joke. But, my favourite time spent laughing with Uncle Bill was hearing him recount tales from his childhood growing-up on the family farm in Manitoba with my dad and their brother Gerald.
I remember being a child and sitting on my Grandmother’s kitchen counter. I’d watch her beat countless cake and cookie batters by hand with a wire whisk. I remember thinking how strong she was. When I was older, I deduced that she must have developed such strong arms from years being a pioneer farm wife. I was wrong. After hearing Uncle Bill and my dad recount tales of their childhood, I soon realized that Grandma’s strong arms came from trying to beat some sense into her less-than-well-behaved sons!!
There were stories of teachers from their one-room school house being locked in the school barn or locked in the outhouse. Stories about locking an annoying female student in the teacher’s office and then lobbing water balloons through the open window of the office – soaking the girl inside. Stories of climbing spruce trees in the school yard to hide from the teacher. Those poor pioneer teachers … if anyone ever deserved to go on mental disability leave, it would have been this hardy group of people!
My favourite story from their youth was the day that Grandma decided that she needed to deal with the rats that were getting into her henhouse. They discovered a worn trench in the grass leading from the henhouse to a piece of farm equipment called a binder.
Grandma staged her sons at the binder and positioned herself along the trench in the grass between the binder and the henhouse. Grandma, being a hardy pioneer farm woman, armed herself for killing the rats … not with a gun, not with an axe, not with a sharp hoe … but with a one foot by four foot plank of wood!!
Well, Grandma gave the word and her sons rattled the binder. Sure enough, down the trench ran a rat. Grandma pulled back and walloped the rat … efficiently introducing its teeth to its rear end. Did I mention that Grandma had strong arms?? Grandma once again gave the nod to her boys to rattle the binder. Again, a rat ran down the trench. Again, Grandma hauled back and walloped the rat into the ever after. Her sons thought this was hilarious and began to rattle the binder at will. Rats were running down the trench like a treadmill in overdrive. Grandma never missed a beat – nor a rat!! Ka-thunk! Ka-thunk! Ka-thunk! Dead rats were flying everywhere. When all was said and done, she filled a five gallon pail with dead rats. And where were her sons? They were doubled-over in laughter – laughter that shook them with joy, took away their breath and made tears of laughter fall from their eyes.
To a man that loved to laugh. Cheers, Uncle Bill! I’ll miss you!
Aunt Colleen,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and Alpo during this difficult time.
Love,
Rhonda
Colleen, I am so sorry to learn of Bill’s passing. May the many memories you hold dear help you through the difficult days. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Barb Wallace
Colleen and family, I was at Foothills Composite High School a few weeks ago and was looking at Bill’s picture on the wall remembering the work he did to get that school up and running back in 1984. I also recall his great sense of humor and his care and concern for the students in his school. Please accept my sincere sympathies on the passing of this fine gentleman.
John Battrum,
Foothills School Division No. 38
Dear Colleen, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time. Bill was a great man, I (Archie) have fond memories of him playing baseball at the Manitoba Normal School where we both were students back in the 50s. Sincerely, Archie and Joan Goodbun
Dear Colleen,
I was so sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. My heart goes out to you Colleen because I know how deeply you loved your darling husband. May God give you the strength and courage to help you through this sad time.
With heartfelt sympathy
Jan
To Colleen Brownlee
Deepest sympathy on Bill’s passing. I have good memories working with him at Foothills Composite. I hope you are doing well.
Colleen and Family,
It was with extreme sadness that I saw of Bill’s passing.
We meet so many very fine people in this life. Of all these people, only very few influence us in such a positive and constructive way. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity in my life to have been influenced by Bill. He will always be remembered favorably!
My deepest condolences to you and the family. Our loss is heavens gain.
Rob James
Calgary
Dear Colleen,
I am so sorry to hear of Bill’s death. Bernie Chandler told me about it.. You must promise to remember all the good things you shared with him over the years, and I know there are many. Just to let you know Donna and I are thinking of you.
Best wishes,
Donna and Bill Baergen