Tribute

After a long and hard-fought battle with cancer, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Bruce Schutz—a devoted husband, proud father, and loving grandfather, whose hard-working ethics have been instilled in his four children to be passed along to generations.

Bruce was born in Copper Mountain on February 16, 1952, at 12 pounds 15 1/2 ounces, and was always proud to show the gold ring he got from the Canadian Government for being the biggest baby born in Canada that year.

Bruce is lovingly remembered by his partner of 37 years, Janette Van Vianen; his children, Tania (Jay), Michael (Michael), Brianna (John), and Alicia (Trevor); and his cherished grandchildren, Jacklyn, Johnny, and Eric, with another precious grandchild on the way. His family was the centre of his world, and nothing brought him more joy than spending time with the people he loved and taking long drives in the hills behind Oliver.

Bruce was predeceased by his mother, Juanita; his father, Massey; his stepfather, Walter; and his sister, Barbara, and is survived by his brother Tom (Vicki) and sister Kim, along with several nieces and nephews.

Bruce was known for his kind heart and unwavering generosity. If someone needed a hand, he was already on his way before they even asked. He would have given the shirt off his back to anyone in need.

In his younger years, Bruce worked as a faller, a career he truly loved. When logging was no longer possible, he continued to put his strong work ethic to use in maintenance at Inkameep Golf Course before later joining Mike Johnson Excavating. No matter where he worked, Bruce took pride in doing the job right and wasn’t afraid of hard work. Even after retirement, you could still find him happiest with a chainsaw in his hand. Whether he was cutting firewood, falling a tree, or simply looking for an excuse to make some sawdust, Bruce was in his element. Some people collected hobbies—Bruce collected chainsaw hours.

Bruce also had a deep love for hunting and guiding hunters with Vaseaux Creek outfitters, finding peace in the outdoors and great joy in sharing that passion with others. The bush was one of his favourite places, and many of his best stories—and probably a few of his tallest tales—came from time spent in the woods.

Bruce leaves behind a legacy of hard work, laughter, loyalty, and unconditional love. His strength, sense of humour, and willingness to help anyone in need will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In keeping with Bruce’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. If you knew Bruce, you already know he wouldn’t have wanted a lot of fuss. Instead, he’d probably tell you to grab a cold Busch beer, share a story, have a laugh, and remember the good times. That’s exactly how he’d want to be remembered.

Though he is gone from our sight, Bruce’s spirit will live on in every family gathering, every hunting trip, every freshly cut load of firewood, and every story shared around a campfire.

A special thank you to his friend Brent Feist, who spent many hours visiting and helping out the past couple of months.  He never hesitated when asked to sit with him or help take Bruce to an appointment, and Bruce and Janette really appreciated it!

We also wish to thank all the doctors and nurses in the oncology ward at Penticton Hospital whose care will always be appreciated, along with shared laughs, tears, and good and bad milestones.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Bruce’s name to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation SOGH Ultrasound Campaign.

Rest easy, Bruce. Your work here is done, but your memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who loved you. You will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.