Obituary
BRUCE ZEMP HARKER
On January 11, 2022 Bruce Harker passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving wife Joan (Hicken) Harker and family. They sang “Love One Another” as he departed to reunite with his Heavenly and Earthly Parents, the same song he sang to his children at bedtime countless times.
Bruce was born on September 20, 1948 and raised in Raymond, Alberta as the youngest of Gerald and Edna (Zemp) Harker’s five children. While growing up he loved boxing, which he excelled at, earning Golden Gloves many times. “Rawhide” spent summers travelling around helping his dad on the racetrack. He enjoyed baseball, curling, playing pool, and basketball (even though he was always too short to make the team).
When he was fourteen, “Smokey Jr.” met the love of his life, Joan – unfortunately she was 6″ taller than he was. After high school he gained enough inches and finally convinced her to go out with him. He served in the Texas Mission and then came back to sweep her off her feet. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Cardston Temple on February 1, 1971. Bruce was brilliant and graduated with a Bachelors of Social Work, cum laude, at Brigham Young University in 1973. Then the family then headed down to Auburn University where he earned his Masters of Education in 1975. While in Alabama, “Snake” was an integral part of his church ball team when they made it to the All Church Championship in Washington DC.
When they returned from Alabama, Bruce and Joan settled down in Raymond. Bruce helped build them a beautiful home and then proceeded to renovate it almost constantly. This earned him the nickname “Reno Bruce.” In fact, his daughter once told her teacher that he renovated for a living. In reality Bruce earned a living as a social worker. He worked first as a Probation Officer, then in Child Protection Services and eventually for FCSS where he had the opportunity to help families with children with disabilities. But he always said his number one job was to make Joan happy.
Bruce loved Joan more than anything. His life revolved around her and they did everything together. Sometimes that meant glamorous trips to far off places like the Dominican, Mexico, England, Australia, TCI, Israel or Hawaii and sometimes it meant a trip to Costco or a date to the dump. She loved when he would come home from work and pitch right in and do whatever needed to be done. Whether it was changing a diaper or helping make a meal.
Bruce was the devoted father of six sons and three daughters. To his children, Bruce will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, protector and provider. His children relied heavily on advice from their father because no one was quite as smart as their dad. They have lots of memories of their dad teaching them how to play basketball and baseball, waterski, dance or helping them with homework. “Big Bad Bruce” and Roger Baldry spent many summers towing their kids around Echo Lake in the Cheetah. One of his greatest joys was watching his kids and grandkids play sports. He rarely missed a game. Eight of his children played Comet basketball, his 6 boys played Comet football, and one of his daughters was a Comet cheerleader. If they were ever late for something Joan would encourage Bruce to drive fast by telling him to “drive like they were late for a game.” One of his children’s fondest memories is how he held them when they were hurt and tenderly told them to “stay with me, I’ll hold you until you feel better.” He was known to do the same with his grandchildren. Bruce loved his family unconditionally and they always knew it.
Bruce was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and often bore his testimony to his family of his belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served in various church callings including presidencies and a YSA bishopric, but his favourite way to serve was as a teacher.
Bruce loved taking naps in the sun, gardening, laughing really really hard at his own jokes, reading, doing math in his head, politics, being Joan’s assistant cook and making hundreds of pies or chocolates at a time, hard work, “jock” science, road trips, solving problems, starting a movie at midnight with Joan, blaring 60’s music, having well polished shoes, big family dinners, and doing anything else as long as his sweetheart was by his side.
Bruce once commented at a family gathering that his life was insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but when the world looked back on his life, the legacy of his family that he and Joan built together was good enough for him. His was a life well-lived with the people most important to him never doubting how much he cared for them. We miss him and look forward to seeing him again.
Bruce was predeceased by his parents Gerald and Edna (Zemp) Harker, and siblings Ross Harker and Colleen Harker McKean. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan Hicken Harker; his nine children Chayston (Darla) Harker, Levi (Artha) Harker, Ivory (Zaren) Oler, Skouson (Jodi) Harker, Zoe (Kyle) Stone, Jesse (Tina) Harker, Bronson (Casey) Harker, Payton (Bailee) Harker, and Keelia (Brody) MacLennan. He is also survived by his 41 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren whom he loved, his sister Zoe Ann Harker Aki and brother Bob Harker.
There will be a viewing Saturday January 22 , 2022 from 12:00 – 12:45pm with a funeral following at 1:00pm. RAYMOND STAKE CENTRE (2 N 200 W, Raymond). Interment will be at the Temple Hill Cemetery.
A livestream will be available here prior to the Service.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Bruce Zemp Harker January 11 2022..
Death notice for the town of: South Lethbridge, Province: Alberta