Date: January 9th, 2021
It is with tremendous sorrow that the family of Bruce Allan Ratcliffe of Tofield, Alberta announces his sudden passing in Tofield on the evening of January 8th, 2021.
Bruce or (Pappy, as his grandchildren affectionately called him) leaves behind to mourn his wife of 44 years Ethel Ratcliffe, his son Jason(Janelle) Ratcliffe and their two children Kylee and Kenadie, his Daughter Jessica(Shane) Hnybida and their two children Dayan and Ashlyn, his sister Cheryl Cunningham, his brothers Doug(Amber) Ratcliffe and Ted Ratcliffe along with their families as well as numerous nieces and nephews and long time friends. Bruce was predeceased by his father and mother Larry Ratcliffe and Jessie Ratcliffe formerly of Raymond, AB.
Bruce was born December 22, 1955 in Edmonton, AB. Bruce grew up in numerous places around southern Alberta with his parents and siblings. Bruce met the love of his life in Calgary when he started working in the same bank as Ethel in 1974. They married two years later in November of 1976 surrounded by family and friends, and Ethel married her little “goober” from the bank where they met. In 1980 Bruce and Ethel moved to Viking, AB to raise their now growing family. It was here that Bruce took his love of family and sports to the fullest. He took special interest in the sport of soccer, by becoming a representative of the minor soccer board in Viking and spearheaded the construction of the soccer fields for the youth in the community. For the next 20+ years he used his spare time to referee youth sports within the surrounding communities. He also volunteered his time to being a coach of these teams as well. Bruce loved the game of golf as well and made it a big part of his hobby life, playing as many courses as he could wherever he went in life, joining leagues at every community that they lived in. After a brief time of living in Strathmore,AB Bruce and Ethel decided to move back up to northern Alberta to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Finally moving into the community of Tofield in 2015 to begin their retirement. He and Ethel loved travelling together, usually taking an annual trip down to Cancun to meet with their “Mexican family”. In 2016 they were able to take their dream trip overseas on a Mediterranean and European cruise. Bruce had an amazing gift of being able to strike up a conversation with anyone, it didn’t matter whether it was someone he knew all of his life or someone he had just met.
In lieu of flowers the family would ask for donations to be made to the Mazankowski Heart Institute or Tofield Legion.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Bruce Ratcliffe 2021..
Death notice for the town of: TOFIELD, Province: Alberta