Bruce Bernard Rieger

If a man can be measured by the number of people who love him, Bruce Bernard Rieger was a giant among men. We are heartbroken to announce his passing early on the morning of July 12th, after a hard fought battle with cancer.

Bruce was born in Kelowna BC on June 28th, 1958, the fourth of six children of Adam and Phyllis (nee Knorr) Rieger. He grew up working hard and playing hard with his cousins and siblings in their Belgo orchard. Along the way he developed a powerful work ethic that stood him in good stead all his life.

After graduating from Rutland Senior Secondary in 1976, Bruce worked at Almetco with his older brother Ken, before heading north to Fort St. John to work for CNN as a First Aid Attendant. In 1980, he was hired by Dowell Schlumberger, and began a very successful career with them that lasted 34 years.

In 1981 he met a cute and sassy blonde named Myrna Robertson and was instantly smitten. When he introduced her to the family, we all knew she was the one! This August 3rd, they would have celebrated 40 years of marriage.

Bruce’s career took them all over the world, including one place where it was not safe for Myrna to join him! They spent five years in Aberdeen, Scotland, with Bruce working for one year on the oil rig Benreoch in the North Sea, and then the next four years working in the Schlumberger Aberdeen office as an engineer.

Then followed five years of Bruce working in Angola, where he was the Schlumberger Station Manager, while Myrna kept the home fires burning in Kelowna. Bruce was flown in and out of a fenced and guarded Angolan compound and back to Kelowna every four weeks. Following that, they moved to Medicine Hat for a short time, then spent fourteen years in Calgary. They retired to Kelowna in 2014.

After retiring, Bruce turned his hand to his many hobbies and interests. He and Myrna loved fishing, camping, golfing and boating, and wonderful family times were spent together. He hand tied flies for fly fishing and tried hard every year to win the trophy in the very competitive annual Brothers Fishing Derby. His skill at woodworking was outstanding, and he created, among many other beautiful objects, exquisite and treasured wedding gifts for his nieces.

Retirement allowed for lots of travel, and they charted their journeys on a map of the world, making it to 58 countries! Bruce’s favourite trips were to Egypt, Italy, Vietnam, Singapore and Taiwan.

Bruce and Myrna hosted legendary family poker nights which resulted in a great deal of laughter and (mostly!) friendly competition. He was a canny and serious poker player, and the perfect host.

“Gruncle” Bruce was the most excellent uncle/great uncle ever, deeply loved by all his many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews on all sides of his large family. He was gentle, funny, kind, generous, wise and so loveable. He will never be forgotten.

He was predeceased by his parents Adam and Phyllis, parents-in-law Ernie and Millie Robertson, sister-in-law Elaine Nicolette, and two brothers-in-law Ernie Robertson (wife Marilyn, deceased) and Dwayne Robertson.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his loving and much loved wife Myrna, his brothers Ken (Suzanne), Tim (Maureen), Terry (Lil) and Russell, his sister Connie Mitchell (Keith), brother-in-law John Nicolette (Doris), brother-in-law Mervin Robertson (Marlene), sisters-in-law Gloria Hebert (Mike) and Delaine Tarlton (Ron) and by 19 nieces and nephews and 28 great nieces and nephews.

Bruce’s life will be celebrated on Friday, August 8th at 1 pm, at First Memorial Funeral Services, 1211 Sutherland Ave, Kelowna BC V1Y 5Y2.

If you plan to attend, RSVP to [email protected]. Please bring along any stories or mementos of Bruce as there will be time for sharing.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Kelowna Cancer Centre or Kelowna Hospice House, or any charity of your choosing in Bruce’s name.