Bruce Nahkala

NAHKALA, BRUCE WAYNEApril 10, 1955 ~November 9, 2013It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, uncle & friend. Bruce Wayne Nahkala passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving wife at the TBRHSC on Saturday, November 9, 2013.Bruce was born on April 10, 1955 in Port Arthur, Ontario to Irma and Ahti Nahkala. From a very young age Bruce was always taking care of everyone and even through his illness he still worried and fussed about the health and welfare of his family. Bruce attended 5 Mile School and Hillcrest High School.Bruce worked many different places over the years including The Port Arthur Shipyard, The Off-Roader, Mastercraft Heating and finally at CN Railway where he worked for over 33 years before taking early retirement due to his poor health.It was while working at CN that Bruce met the love of his life, Catherine Koivisto. He and Cathy were married November 7, 1981 and had just celebrated their 32nd Wedding Anniversary. Bruce's proudest days were December 8, 1982 and January 28, 1986, when his 2 boys Justin and Richard were born. Bruce enjoyed watching his boys grow up and taking an interest in the things he loved, taking them fishing to his favourite and secret fishing spots, spending time with them at the camp, teaching them to drive (even though they weren't old enough) and teaching them to drive the boat (again, even though they weren't old enough).Bruce's passion was cooking. He loved cooking and barbecuing for his family and friends, and whenever the boys had friends over they always wanted to stay for supper or overnight. They knew that there would always be something good cooked up for dinner or Finnish Pancakes for breakfast.Bruce was an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed ski-dooing and ice-fishing in the winter, and fishing, golfing, berry picking and putting together a little garden in the summer. Bruce enjoyed getting together with his buds, be it their yearly fishing trip or their Friday Night Poker games. Bruce was also quite the handy-man. Whenever someone needed help building a house or working on their cars, he was always there to lend a hand, and he passed this same know how to his 2 boys.Bruce was so overjoyed that Richard was going to marry the love of his life, Laura, in May, and he was fighting so hard to be here for that special occasion. He thought so much of Laura, she was like the daughter he never had.Bruce is survived by his wife Cathy; sons Justin, and Richard and fiancee Laura; his mom and dad Irma and Irv Smith; his sister Sherri and her children Amanda, Joseph and Andrea of Port Moody, BC; his brothers Brad and his daughter Lindsey of Campbell River, BC and Shawn of Spirit River, AB; by his brother-in-law David & Paula Koivisto and their son, his sister-in-law Valdene Koivisto and her children; and by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.Bruce was predeceased by his father Ahti; his brother Barry, by his grandparents Tynne & Charles Hagberg and Amanda & Reino Nahkala, as well as numerous aunt and uncles. He was predeceased by his mother & father-in-law Ann & George Koivisto.A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 16 at the Airlane Hotel in the Tiberio Room. Visitation with family 12:30 to 1:00pm. Service 1:00pm officiated by Pastor Garry Heintz. Lunch to follow.In lieu of flowers, donations to the Northern Cancer Fund would be greatly appreciated.God saw you getting tiredand a cure was not to beSo He put His arms around youand whispered"Come to Me"Brucie, we miss you terribly."