BRUCE STANLEY ROBERTON

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BRUCE STANLEY ROBERTON

Bruce Roberton "Potsie", son of Gertrude and John Stanley, was born on February 3, 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was the youngest child and only male of the six siblings which included: Gertie, Lillian, Marjorie, Roberta and Doris.
Bruce spent his childhood growing up on Helmsdale Avenue in East Kildonan, near the banks of the Red River. He loved to share stories of the family garden parties (picnics, tennis and croquet) on the lawn and how life was.
Later the family moved to Valour Road which was where he met his best friend Harry (Hank) in grade 7 while attending Isaak Brock School.
Bruce spent a brief period of his young adult life, in the Royal Canadian Airforce. After his first son was born, he was a mail carrier and sorter for Canada Post until he retired in April 1984.
Bruce met his wife, Jean Ann in 1949 while they were both working for the Unemployment Insurance commission. They wed on September 22, 1951 and celebrated nearly 60 years of marriage. Jean Ann passed on June 29, 2011. After her passing, with help from his niece Lorrie Pismenny, Bruce moved to Riverwood square and later Concordia Place.
Many knew Bruce as "Potsie" This was a nickname earned while babysitting his then young grandson Andrew, who at the time couldn't say "Grandpa". The name grew on Potsie and he wore it with pride.
Potsie enjoyed a good chess match, word puzzles, suduko and had a love for playing the organ. He was passionate in developing an easy method of teaching the piano to novices. But more than anything, Potsie loved to write. It did not matter whether it was a story, poems, notes for himself or correspondence with others. He was always busy putting ink to paper, and had a lot of pen pals to keep in touch with. Through his writing, many letters were received by family and friends that regaled all with his sense of humor, wit and teasing.
On June 20, 2023, Bruce passed away peacefully at the age of 97. He is survived by his two sons: Brian and Malcolm (Debbie) and five grandchildren: James (Rachel), Andrew (Shannon), Daniel (Jillian), Destiny (Astor), Hope; and two great-grandchildren: Evelyn and Kieran. Many nieces and nephews, as well as sister-in-law Margaret Mundie and brother-in-law Peter Mundie. As well as Gwen Jaques, mother of Andrew and Daniel.
He lived a long and fulfilling life and touched the lives of many. He will be remembered for his kind heart, gentle spirit, and unwavering love for his family.
Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will live on through his family and the impact he made on those around him. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Condolences can be shared on the Friends Funeral Services website.

We love you, Potsie.

The Path That Goes Down

There's a path that goes down and away
From the town,
And leads to the waters below,
Where rocks and the sand and
trees tall and grand
Listen to murmurings low.

On the path that goes down and away
From the town,
There's a hush and a lull over all,
Where body and mind can know
peace of a kind
And listen to murmurings small.

No shouting, no cheering,
no crying or fearing,
No trampling of spirit or bone,
Just resting and healing,
the water revealing
Stories and secrets unknown.

And this path that I'm on,
long after I'm gone
Will still lead to the waters below,
Where rocks and the sand and
trees tall and grand
Listen to murmurings low.

Bruce Roberton 2018 copywrite

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 30, 2023, Jul 01, 2023