Barry John Gabruch

Barry John Gabruch passed away peacefully with family at his side on April 19th, 2020 from complications associated with a major car accident on March 02, 2020. Barry was raised in North Battleford, Saskatchewan with his sister Shelley and brother Darin. Coming from a large extended family of maternal 13 and 9 paternal siblings. Barry had the fortune to discover the importance of family and friends, never missing the chance to laugh, razz others, have a get together at the cabin in Turtle Lake, or meet up with childhood friends for a meal. Barry briefly followed his love of music by Djing at Vernon on a radio station and later started his own DJ service for weddings and schools. In 1989 Barry met Denise Milman at a baseball tournament in Meota, Saskatchewan. Denise admired Barry’s ease of talking with others not to mention his limbo ability and was convinced to move to Edmonton with him and his sister. With a heavy heart, the family lost Darin shortly after which took significant strength to process.

In true Barry fashion, Barry made a grand gesture and proposed to Denise at her work, a domestic abuse shelter, on New Year’s Eve and later married in 1991. He enjoyed raising twins Carson and Selina in 1994 and Shelise in 1997 filling our lives with cheesy dad jokes, spirited philosophical debates, love of 1980’s music, and sports. Barry also taught his family that it is important to express your excitement over the little things and your exuberance over the big things. To Barry, of course, one of those big things was the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their odds of winning a Grey Cup. He was fortunate to attend a Grey Cup with his friend Jim which led to many years of further anticipation and endless discussion with all those who would listen.

Barry worked for many years as a teacher’s aide for L.Y. Carns Edmonton Public School then Woodside School until changing careers to work at Weiss-Johnson as a human resource manager and the Dyand Mechanical as a safety manager. All three career opportunities left Barry with many deep friendships which he enjoyed for many years to come. As our time with Barry ends, he has left his footprint on his family. He has given us the gift of knowing what it is like to feel every beat of the music, to find the courage to follow your passion and beliefs, and go out and experience life before it is too late, preferably with those you love.

A Celebration of Barry’s Life will take place at a later date when family and friends are able to attend.