April 21, 1929 – December 5, 2022
With sadness in our hearts, we announce the passing of our wonderful Dad, Bill Burgess, at the age of 93, with loved ones at his side.
Our Dad grew up in Flaxcombe, Saskatchewan. Life in the 30’s was hard. Yet Dad still relayed stories of his childhood with fond memories as a wonderful time in his life. When Bill was old enough, he played baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter – two sports he excelled at and loved for many years.
Bill began his career with the Canadian National Railway (CN) at 16 years old, where his colleagues often became family friends. His four sons also worked for the CN at points in their lives. Dad was promoted many times while working with the CN. The highlight of his career was when he was selected to go to Montréal for three years in the 1980’s where he was instrumental in the computerization of a sector of rail traffic control. He was selected because he knew his job so well, and was precise and conscientious, having a regard for safety as the priority for CN Rail.
People who knew Dad would know his family was of utmost importance to him, and his love for Thora was second to none. Through Thora’s illness, his devotion to her was unwavering. He moved closer to her home at the Citadel, and would walk to visit her daily, taking her for walks when she was able.
Sports and fitness drove Bill. He encouraged all of his children to get involved in sports, with a popular one being cross-country skiing. He skied in several 55 km Birkebeiner events, including: the Birkebeinerrennet, the original event in Lillehammer, Norway; and, the Canadian Birkebeiner at the Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area in Alberta, where he led his family to win the prize five times for the family with the most kilometers skied. There were close to 20 Burgess family members in each of those fun-filled races, skiing in the 200s and 300s of km per race.
When Bill turned 70, he started running marathons. Three years in a row, he achieved the Run-Bike-Ski award for running a marathon, biking the 120 km Alberta Tour, and skiing the 55 km Canadian Birkebeiner.
Bill and Thora truly enjoyed the outdoors, their family, and friends. After retirement they bought a plot of land near Smoky Lake. It was a place to garden, take long walks and ski on the trails they created, enjoy nature and simply be together with people they loved. A cabin was built along with a state-of-the-art outhouse followed by a bunkhouse. It was enjoyed by many.
Bill and Thora loved to dance. That was a beautiful thing to watch. While Bill lived in River Ridge and West Country Hearth, he continued to dance. He was known as the unofficial Fred Astaire of River Ridge.
Bill was predeceased by his wife, Thora, his grandson David Michael, his daughter-in-law Allison, his mother Velma, his father Walter, brother Ken and sisters Cora and Helen.
Bill is survived by his 7 children, 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren: Michael (Sandy), Lesley (Steve), Jacqueline (Mark), Christopher, Margaret, and Josie (Steve); Theresa, Matt (Kristen), Brielle, Brixton, Nathan and Mitchell; Don (Brenda), Jenny, Corr (Susan), Luke, Matthew, Tanner (Emily) and Victoria; Ken, Kevin (Lana), Jack, Keira, Niall (Lindsay), Llewyn and Franny; Laura (Mike), Caroline (Matt), Owen, Avery and Ken; Dave (Fiona), Zoë and Karina; Tobi (Bruce), Isabel (Filipe), Felix and Sophia. Also, sister-in-law Frances (Bobbie) McDougall and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held at Connelly-McKinley, 9 Muir Drive, St. Albert on Monday, December 12 at 10:00 am. In remembrance of Bill, donations to West Country Hearth seniors’ facility in Villeneuve, or a charity of your choice, would be gratefully received.
