Bruce Bohush Mateika, 89, of Kelowna, BC, entered into the presence of the Lord on September 11, 2020. He was born on a farm north of Minitonas, MB, and grew up as one of 5 brothers in an immigrant community of Czechs, Germans, and Ukranians who settled in the Swan River Valley. It was actually one of his school teachers that gave him his English name, Bruce. After finishing school, and spending a year as a teacher of a one room school near Swan River, Bruce moved west to Coquitlam, BC to complete a B.Th at Northwest Baptist Bible College (NBBC). It was also at NBBC where he met his wife, Helen. Bruce and Helen, served churches together from 1956-1992 in Barriere, BC, Smithers, BC, Maple Ridge, BC, Fort McMurray, AB, and Armstrong, BC. During these years, Bruce also served as Camp Director at Sunnybrae Bible Camp (Tappen), Camp Driftwood (Smithers), and Camp Nee Chee Wogan (Ft. McMurray). It should also not go without mention that many of the years in northern BC and AB were bi-vocational for Bruce, which meant that he held other jobs to supplement his salary. Some of those jobs included Green Chain at a local sawmill, Post Office Clerk, School Bus Driver, Truant Officer, Returning Officer for Alberta Elections, Regional Commissioner for Census Canada, and Crisis Counsellor for Preventative Social Services. He also provided denominational leadership for FEBCAST, FEBBC, and served on the Board of Governors for Northwest Baptist Theological College in Vancouver. Despite all this activity, though, Bruce was known as a passionate preacher of the Word of God and a caring minister to people in the communities in which he lived.
From 1993-2001, Bruce held Chaplain and administrative roles for the Baptist Housing Society of BC in Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Salmon Arm, and Vancouver. Bruce and Helen retired to Summerland, BC in 2001, but still maintained supportive roles in Peachland Baptist Church. After a brief return to Armstrong in 2014, Bruce and Helen moved to Kelowna in 2016 for their final years in the Village at Mill Creek (Baptist Housing) and Mission Creek Landing.
Bruce was predeceased by his parents (Vladislav & Emilie), three brothers (Tony, Milton, Bill), two nieces (Janice, Beverly), a sister-in-law (Rosie), and his wife (Helen). He is survived by his children, Sherri (Phil), Merle (Lisa), grandchildren, Kimba, Willow (Cliff), Belle (CJ), Abram (Hannah), Zakkai, Gideon, Karel, Caroline, and great-grandchildren Joseph, Bennett, and Theophilus. He is also survived by brothers Harold (Ruth), Wallace (Ann), sister-in-law, Olga, and many nieces and nephews.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Bruce Bohush Mateika September 11th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Armstrong, Province: Colombie britanique