1938 - 2023
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Bill Lovelace announces his passing on May 22, 2023 in Sundre at the age of 84 years.
Bill leaves behind to mourn his daughter Lisa Iaci and her children Brandon and Kiley of Port Coquitlam, BC; son Bill (Pamela) Lovelace and their children Erica and Ana of Coldstream, BC; son Bob (Nadine) Lovelace and their children Carter, Jack and Sarah of Calgary, AB; and daughter Barbara (Cody) Jackson and their daughters Jillian and Allia of Sundre, AB, as well as nieces and nephews.
Bill was predeceased by his wife Joyce, parents William and Miriam Lovelace, and his sisters Isobel Pearson and Mary Bogas.
Bill was born in Woodstock, Ontario in 1938, moving to Vernon at a young age. As a teenager he excelled at sports, particularly baseball and hockey. Together with his father, he built a boat and became an avid waterskier, spending many evenings after work on Okanagan Lake. After high school he worked for Super-Valu, where he learned the skills of meat cutting, and was quickly promoted to meat manager. This was also where he met a lovely cashier, Joyce Moilliet, and they married in Vernon in 1963. Shortly after, Bill became a meat supervisor for Kelly Douglas covering stores in BC and later western Canada while Joyce stayed home to raise their three children.
His career took the family to Richmond, Penticton, North Vancouver and Calgary. Tiring of being on the road away from his family, he quit his corporate job and began searching Alberta for a business to purchase, eventually finding the Bergen General Store in 1976.
Two of Bill’s greatest joys were running the Bergen General Store in “Beautiful Downtown Bergen, Alberta” with his family and coaching his kids hockey and lacrosse teams. He even organized a female hockey team in the late 1970s. After retiring in 1995, due to Joyce’s health, they briefly returned to Vernon, before finally settling back in Sundre.
Bill will be remembered for his sharp business acumen and integrity, his devotion to his family, and his sense of humour. In retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, gardening, watching football and hockey, and going for drives.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the doctors and nurses at the Sundre Hospital for the care Bill received.
A celebration of life will be held on August the 19th, 2023 at 3:30 pm at the Bergen Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to STARS or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Sundre, entrusted with arrangements. 403-638-4393 www.heartlandfuneral Services.com
