Rudolf E. (Gus) Hartl

Rudolf Philip Edward Hartl, also known as “Gus” or “Rudy” passed away peacefully at McKenney Creek Hospice Residence in Maple Ridge, on December 21st, 2012. With a broken heart after the recent loss of his beloved wife, lung cancer swiftly took him Home.

Gus was born on a farm in Saskatchewan on October 10th, 1929, the second youngest of five children. He attended boarding school at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox Saskatchewan, and a few years later joined the RCMP in 1950. He met his beautiful Beatrice in Calgary and married her in 1951. Together, they raised six sons across Canada, living in Quinton, Saskatchewan; Dauphin and Swan River, Manitoba; Ottawa, Ontario; Aldergrove, Abbotsford and Langley, BC. During his RCMP career, he also maintained a small grain farm in Saskatchewan, near his parents’ and brother’s homes, where he would take his family each summer and spend his vacation time working the farm. He retired from the RCMP at the age of 46 in Burnaby detachment, after he had sold his Saskatchewan farm and moved to a hobby farm in Aldergrove, British Columbia.

Following his retirement, Gus worked with the BC Probation Services and helped establish a community work program in the Fraser Valley for young offenders, to perform community services. Gus subdivided his 80 acre Aldergrove property, sold all but 10 acres, and subsequently developed residential real estate projects in Abbotsford and Mission. His large family and many friends have special memories of his 10 acre hobby farm, which Gus had developed into a kind of “family resort”, complete with swimming pool, tennis court, an island with a bonfire area, a barn for large parties, complete with horses, a few cows, chickens, cats and dogs. He loved to take children and parents for hayrides on the property whenever family or friends visited. As Gus and Bea grew older, and the maintenance became too much for them, Gus eventually sold ‘the farm’ and they moved to Abbotsford. After giving up his driver’s license due to deteriorating peripheral vision, he and Bea moved to the Renaissance Retirement Home in Langley, to be closer to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, most of whom now live in the Langley area.

Gus was a charter member of the Aldergrove Rotary Club, and a Fourth Degree Knight of the Roman Catholic Knights of Columbus. He was a strong Roman Catholic, who practiced his faith daily. Gus particularly enjoyed delivering Christmas hampers each year to the less fortunate, sometimes along with some gentle advice and counsel for the recipients, and he eagerly helped out whenever he was needed. Gus and Bea wintered each year at their Arizona home for the past 25 years, and made many friends from across Canada and the USA. Gus was the most sociable person you’d ever meet, and relationships with family and friends were always the most important priorities in his life.

He is lovingly remembered by sons Philip (Linda), Doug (Poona), Bob (Pat), Dennis, Gus (Brenda); grandchildren Trevor Hartl (Amanda), Jennifer Bajic (Ante), Douglas Hartl (Christina), Navada Taylor (Stephen), Janelle Hartl (Andrew), Jared Hartl, Serena Hartl (James), Whitney Pollock (Justin), Jessica German (Brad), Meagan Hartl; great grandchildren Luka, Spencer, Ben, Cate, Taylin, Olivia, Hudson, Quinn; sisters Elsie Smith, Edna Hornett (Jim), Bertha Kenny (Al); as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is predeceased by his parents Philip and Maria, his loving wife Beatrice, his son David, and his brother Albert.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 4th, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Sts. Joachim and Ann Catholic Church, 2827 – 273rd Street in Aldergrove.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to the BC Cancer Foundation or the charity of your choice.

For more information, or to leave on-line condolences, please visit www.hendersonslangleyfunerals.com