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Bruce WILSON
WILSON
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Bruce WILSON

Bruce WILSON

Bruce WILSON obituary

FUNERAL HOME

George Darte Funeral Home - St. Catharines

585 Carlton Street

St. Catharines, Ontario

Bruce WILSON Obituary

D. Bruce Wilson P.Eng, Ph.D, of Port Colborne, ON, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at age 75, in the company of his children and grandchildren. Bruce was blessed to have grown up living at the entrance to Canatara Park in Sarnia with his younger brothers, John and Jeff. He excelled academically throughout high school, winning the highest marks at Northern Collegiate in all five years, followed by excellence in Chemical Engineering at Queen's, where he received his B.Sc in 1971 and his Ph.D in 1976. He received scholarships and academic awards too numerous to mention and remained close to his many Science '71 classmates. During high school, he canoed with friends extensively throughout Northern Ontario and Algonquin Park. At Imperial Oil in Sarnia and then a lengthy career at Suncor in Ft. McMurray, he was an expert in statistical analysis and refinery process optimization. Following retirement from Suncor, he moved to Port Colborne to live with his old Queen's pal, Marg Tanaszi, where he continued work as a consultant to Suncor and took up competition in Ontario Masters Athletics in discus, shot put, javelin hammer throw and weight throw, winning medals in his age category. Bruce enjoyed training vigorously for these events, including one time holding a plank for five minutes! He made many new friends at the local YMCA while doing so. Bruce is survived and dearly loved by his children whom he was very proud of, Dr. Sarah Wilson, Ph.D of St. Catharines, and grandson, Eric; Dr. Laura Wilson, her husband, Tyler Gnass, grandson, Maxwell of Vancouver; and son, Matthew Wilson of Ottawa. Bruce is also survived by Jeff's wife, Linda Wilson of Goderich; and his brother, John H. Wilson and partner, Jo'Anne Strekaf of Calgary. Bruce was predeceased by his parents, Herbert and Ina Wilson; wife, Linda (nee Laidley) Wilson of Sarnia; and brother, Dr. Jeff Wilson, Ph.D of Goderich. In keeping with the family's wishes, funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the George Darte Funeral Home, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines. A private celebration of Bruce's life will be held for family and friends in Sarnia at a later date. Online Guestbook: www.georgedartefuneralhome.com

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Published by The Globe and Mail from Apr. 6 to Apr. 10, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Bruce WILSON

Not sure what to say?

5 Entries

Barry Ledrew, P.Eng Ret´d

July 12, 2024

Barry Ledrew, P.Eng Ret´d

July 12, 2024

Barry Ledrew, P.Eng Ret´d

July 12, 2024

For Bruce Wilson P.Eng/Ph.D: A fond farewell to a friend, colleague and mentor to many people. I had the privilege of working with Bruce for more than two decades at Suncor. Always enjoyed the get-togethers for coffee and the food experience during numerous dinner parties he hosted. Bruce was certainly the king of Bananas Flambé. Farewell Bruce and condolences to his family.

David Cooke, Major Ret'd RCAF

April 15, 2024

Bruce and I grew up together from preschool to High School, across the street from each other. I knew Bruce when he was just "Boody" cause that was his nickname according to his younger brothers. Even Ida, his Mom, called him Boody . . I only today reading the story about his whole life now I find out his first name was actually David. This photo is from ninth grade when we won 2 prize in the Northern Collegiate Science Fair probably 1964? I think. It was "Experiments in water" as you can see. Our dads both worked at Imperial Oil and we got a pile of cool LAB Gear, even a vacuum system to show how water boils a room temperature if the atmospheric pressure was very low. I think a lot of my love for science was just hanging around Bruce and "trying stuff". We each won a really precision Stadtler plastic slide rule, which I still have.

We parted company after High School and I went off to the RCAF to become a pilot and Bruce went on the greater things, as I found out later when we both retired and I'd moved back to Sarnia. He'd kept in touch with Brock Pullen and when I found out he was doing seniors Track & Field. We got together at Timmies several times (3-4 years ago) whenever he visited Sarnia occasionally for work or to see old friends like the Pullens. It was great talking with him about our lives and how we'd gone very separate ways, but we still maintained a lot of the same interests in science and chemistry, athletics and geology. I was never an "academic" but you can easily see how he influenced EVERYONE near him and especially his family.

Will miss those personal talks we had on chemistry and the cosmos that he knew so much about. He made me wish I'd studied more of my interests in greater depths in my youth. Just before Christmas we'd talked about a Timmies meet in the spring and I'll certainly miss his insights and ideas now.

Judy (Laidley) Farrell

April 8, 2024

Sending love to you Laura and Matt and Sarah. Your Dad loved you so much and will always be in your hearts. Love Aunt Judy

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results

Memorial Events
for Bruce WILSON

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Funeral services provided by:

George Darte Funeral Home - St. Catharines

585 Carlton Street, St. Catharines, ON L2M 4Y1