Forbes William Hartfiel

It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our dad, Forbes William Hartfiel, on June 1, 2025 in Surrey, British Columbia. Forbes was born in Leduc, Alberta to Wilhelm (Bill) and Eva (Saluk) Hartfiel on July 29, 1939.

He grew up throughout Alberta and BC and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a teenager in 1958. He served Canada for 15 years during the Cold War at radar stations all across the country, with extended training postings in Mississippi and England. He retired from the Air Force in the early 70s to raise his young family in BC’s lower mainland, while moving to the private sector.

Forbes was filled with curiosity - he never stopped learning! He loved astronomy, history and archaeology, indigenous rock art, physics, music, cooking (he was the best cook!), movies and was an avid veggie gardener. He was constantly tinkering, fixing and building things. He was a natural athlete and played every conceivable sport he had access to - both competitively and recreationally - throughout his air force years. He then moved on to coaching as his kids took up soccer and baseball in the 80s and 90s. He was a life-long New York Yankees fan and often spoke fondly of the day he was finally able to attend a game at the original Yankee Stadium! He always loved a good pun and had an outstanding collection of terribly bad dad jokes. He loved the outdoors and was never happier than when he was camping, hiking and gold panning throughout BC.

Forbes was predeceased by his parents, his siblings Irene (Oldham), Roger, Leanne (Horbachewski), Norma (McNairnay) and Julie (Jones). He is survived by his children Melissa and Matt, his sister Janice (Ewing) and countless nieces and nephews.

There will be no service. The family will be making a private trip to scatter his ashes in the fall.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to make donations to either the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, Brain Injury Canada or The Canadian Red Cross.