Bryan Roy Heap

November 2, 1943 - March 24, 2013

It is with great sadness that the family of Bryan Heap announces his passing after a brave battle on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at the age of 69 years. Bryan will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 43 years, Judy and their children, Darcy (Suzanne) and Dennis. Bryan’s memory will be loved and cherished by his six grandchildren and great granddaughters as well as by his brothers Ron and Randy (Dee). He will also be forever remembered by his numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends. Bryan was predeceased by his parents, Herb and Lillas; sister Maxine and brothers Arnold, Blair and Wade. A Celebration of Bryan’s Life will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to the Calgary Health Trust for the Santuari Hospice Unit 42 at the Peter Lougheed Hospital, 3500 – 26 Avenue N.E., Calgary, AB T1Y 6J4 (phone 403-943-0615). In memory of Bryan’s bravery and kindness in life, the family requests you do a random act of kindness for a stranger. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.

FOSTER'S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial

Eulogy - by David Platt -

Bryan as born on November 2, 1943 to Herb and Lillas Heap. He was raised in Keephills, Alberta along with five brothers and one sister.

He began working in the sheet metal industry and in 1969 he married Judy Everitt. Bryan continued to work with sheet metal which took him to such exotic places as Norman Wells, Inuvik and Aklavik.

In 1971 his first son, Darcy was born and in 1972 the family moved t Bon Accord and began farming. In 1974, a second son, Denny, was born and they continued to live in the Bon Accord area until 1981.

At this time, the family moved to Kelowna and Bryan began his trucking career, hauling cars across Western Canada.

The family remained in Kelowna until 1985 and then moved to Calgary where Bryan earned his red seal welding ticket and worked in the oil and gas industry.

In 1991, the family moved to Houston, Texas and Bryan began working overseas, welding and moving rigs, in more exotic places, such as the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Northern Siberia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and the French Riviera. Whoops – I guess we forgot to tell you girls about that one.

In 1995, the family returned to Calgary and Bryan went to work for Rostel, welding and fabricating drilling rigs. He remained there until retirement in 2009.

My first encounter with Bryan was in 1993 in Siberia. It was after supper and a few people were commenting that they may have to cut back on the food intake or else their clothes may not fit. There was a portly fellow sitting there enjoying a cup of coffee who simply stated “Hay Baba, just buy bigger clothes”. I knew then that I needed to know the man behind such wisdom.

I had the opportunity to work with Bryan over the next few years and he became a great friend, always trying to make the best of things. We wound up back in Siberia to mobilize the equipment out of Russia and into Kazakhstan. Everybody but the Russians thought this was a good idea. As a result, we wound up sitting for days and days with absolutely nothing to do. About the time I thought I couldn’t stand anymore, Bryan would get that big grin on his face and say “Hey Baba, I sure hope they don’t expect us to work this hard everyday”.

Bryan enjoyed skiing, fishing, camping and gardening with a special interest in growing tomatoes. The tomatoes turned into a friendly competition with the neighbor, seeing who could grow the biggest and the best. Bob, I’m guessing right about now, Bryan’s getting some inside information from the big guy – you know – the one who makes everything grow. So the competition may have just been kicked up a notch.

Sometimes, not all for the best, he was a person of great curiosity. There was a time when he and his twin brother, Blair, got to wondering what would happen if they rolled a barrel of stumping powder, a form of dynamite, into the chicken coup. No eggs for two months.

Another time when the twin’s adventure had gone awry, they were sent to fetch a switch. While wandering through the bush, trying to decide which piece of wood would serve them the best, and their dad the least, they came across a tree that had fallen over. It was all they could do to carry it back but when they arrived their Mom began laughing so hard that their Dad was forced to relent.

Bryan had a great love for family and during his final days he was able to pass down to his boys two treasured pieces of jewelry that he picked up in Saudi Arabia. A very special moment for both father and sons.