Bill Burge
1939 - 2016
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William Leigh (Bill) “Sonny” Burge in Lloydminster on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at the age of 77 years.
The Funeral Service was held at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 2:00 P.M.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Joan and their three boys Tony Burge of Kelowna, British Columbia and his children Brendan, Brittany and Brody; Terry (Rhonda) Burge of Lethbridge and their daughter Kodi (Riley) Kostek; Troy (Nadine) Burge of Grande Cache and their children Cole (Alex) Burge and Carra Burge (Kody Borg). He is also survived by four great grandchildren Bodene Burge, Alayna Burge, Navaya Burge and Kash Kostek. He is also survived by his sister Jean Bullock; brothers-in-law Ken Christensen and Stu Thompson; sisters-in-law Gloria (John) Wood and Dianne (Tom) Davey and by numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his mother Ella Burge; granddaughter Kortney Burge; sisters Judy Christensen and Donna Hall; brothers-in-law Nels Hall and Ken Bullock; mother and father-in-law Frank and Gerry Comte; sister-in-law Frankie Thompson.
Bill had an active life where he found himself always gravitating towards the field of sport and service. On November 29, 1957, he joined the Navy and served as a Leading Seaman. He soon found an interest in recreation and sport and became the Recreational Instructor for ten years. During that time, he met and married Roberta Joan Comte on April 9, 1960 and soon began a family.
Bill had a variety of jobs throughout his life, many focusing around his passion of sport and service. He was a swimming instructor in Red Deer, bus driver for a number of hockey teams, taxi driver, truck driver for Koch, Southern Transportation, Triple T Water Hauling and Triwell, crew maintenance worker for JB Oilfield and a Recreational Director at the Drumheller Institution and Grande Cache Institution.
Throughout his life he enjoyed all sporting events. In his younger years Bill would be found on the ball diamond or at the rink. His love and knowledge of sports as an athlete impacted his entire life where sport became the centre of many family activities. In his later years he continued to be a sports enthusiast watching his children and nieces and nephews play ball and hockey. Sports on the television helped fill his day as he watched, cheered and analyzed the game.
Bill will be remembered for his quick wit, fun and loving nature, love for sport and its intricacies and most importantly, for the love he had for his family and friends.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Bill’s name may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, 200, 325 Manning Road NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 2P5 www.cancer.ca.