Obituary for Bruce Huggett
Cowboy cause of death determined to be stubbornness and an addiction to deserts
On December 22, 2022, in his 75th year, Bruce William Huggett passed peacefully at his Mississauga, Ontario, home after a valiant and stubborn fight with Parkinson’s complications. The family at his side was grateful he did not take the opportunity of a gathering to tell his favourite joke: A horse goes into a bar. The bartender says, “why the long face?”
Bruce was predeceased by his beloved mother, Winnifred (nee Martin), fondly known as Peggy, and his father, Edward. Bruce’s father was a WWII vet who landed on Normandy beach. Sustaining injuries, he was sent to a hospital in England, where he met and fell in love with Peggy, a young war-time volunteer. Peggy was on the last boat of war brides landing in Canada at 16.
Cowboy, renaissance man, and staunchly steadfast are only some of Bruce’s qualities. Bruce had 20th-century values and manners, with open-minded 21st-century wonder, eagerness to learn, and acceptance. Bruce was quick to smile, tell a cheesy joke, help others with unending patience, and insightful, respectful and even-tempered.
Bruce very much embraced his large and blended family. He spent the last 20 years with his partner, Debi. He treated Debi’s children, Krystel (Jared), Paul (Sarah) and Kendra, as if they were his own. Bruce also gained a new mother-in-law and friend in Debi’s mother, Renate (Robert).
Bruce’s firstborn daughter, Karie (Owen), entered the world when he was 18. As a young, single dad, Bruce would meet Glenda, who had a young son, John (Orla), whom Bruce would later adopt. Bruce and Glenda would go on to have a son together, Christopher.
At only 17, Bruce took on the responsibility of caring for his mother and three younger sisters, Lynda (Fred), Susan (Sonny), and Jayne. He felt lucky to be both a big brother and father figure. Later he would walk each of his sisters down the aisle and protectively (perhaps grudgingly or gratefully) guide them to their prospective husbands.
He was thrilled to be the Papa of 10 grandchildren, five from his family with Glenda: Niamh, Ciaran, Reed, Ronan, and Luke, and another five grandchildren from his family with Debi: Ryan, Prussia, Ryleigh, Justin, and Rhys.
Bruce loved his vast extended family. He felt he was blessed to be surrounded by many people he loved throughout his life. He never considered that his care, empathy, solid common-sense and unwavering commitment to his “people” drew everyone to him.
Bruce started his career in the transportation industry at 18, moving progressively up the ladder from Smith Transport to CP Transport and then to Day and Ross before becoming a shareholder and VP of Operations at Armbro Transport. In the early days, he concurrently took post-secondary classes at York University and raised his family. Post-retirement from Armbro, Bruce started working as an Owner-Operator driver with his former Day and Ross team at a newly formed Dove Creek Motor Express. Driving his blinged-out Peterbilt and hanging with the “boys” was a rewarding final phase of his career.
Our enthusiastic role model had a need for speed. Bruce was an avid Enduro Racing enthusiast and fierce competitor, riding with the Oshawa Competition Motorcycle Club and winning several 1st and 2nd place trophies. Bruce could recognize any car, year, and model on sight as a quintessential gearhead. He was determined to settle into the section of heaven reserved for NASCAR drivers and challenge Dale Earnhardt to a race. We shall see if his mother, who has already met up with Bruce, will allow such nonsense.
Bruce was an engineer at heart, repairing anything and everything. From Band-Aids and hugs for his children and grandchildren to truck, car and home repairs. He was good to go as long as he had duct tape and vice grips. He used his duct tape to hold the gauze in place on his own injuries, hold his pants up when he forgot a belt, Vice grips to hold a broken mirror bracket on his Pete, a shower head in place…
Having many interests and hobbies, Bruce was a fervent fan of country music. If asked, Bruce would tell you that music was the thing he loved most, and while country was his favourite, he was happy spending hours discussing musicians, songs, and trends in any genre.
A special thanks to Bruce’s primary caretakers, Regina, his nurse Elsie, Case Manager Rachel, support staff, and the Palliative Care Team at Halton-Peel Home and Community Care, along with Dr. Anthony Lang and his team at Toronto Western Hospital’s Movement Disorder Clinic.
Donations to the Diabetes Association of Canada.
On December 22, 2022, in his 75th year, Bruce William Huggett passed peacefully at his Mississauga, Ontario, home after a valiant and stubborn fight with Parkinson’s complications. The family at his side was grateful he did not take the opportunity of a gathering to tell his favourite joke: A horse goes into a bar. The bartender says, “why the long face?”
Bruce was predeceased by his beloved mother, Winnifred (nee Martin), fondly known as Peggy, and his father, Edward. Bruce’s father was a WWII vet who landed on Normandy beach. Sustaining injuries, he was sent to a hospital in England, where he met and fell in love with Peggy, a young war-time volunteer. Peggy was on the last boat of war brides landing in Canada at 16.
Cowboy, renaissance man, and staunchly steadfast are only some of Bruce’s qualities. Bruce had 20th-century values and manners, with open-minded 21st-century wonder, eagerness to learn, and acceptance. Bruce was quick to smile, tell a cheesy joke, help others with unending patience, and insightful, respectful and even-tempered.
Bruce very much embraced his large and blended family. He spent the last 20 years with his partner, Debi. He treated Debi’s children, Krystel (Jared), Paul (Sarah) and Kendra, as if they were his own. Bruce also gained a new mother-in-law and friend in Debi’s mother, Renate (Robert).
Bruce’s firstborn daughter, Karie (Owen), entered the world when he was 18. As a young, single dad, Bruce would meet Glenda, who had a young son, John (Orla), whom Bruce would later adopt. Bruce and Glenda would go on to have a son together, Christopher.
At only 17, Bruce took on the responsibility of caring for his mother and three younger sisters, Lynda (Fred), Susan (Sonny), and Jayne. He felt lucky to be both a big brother and father figure. Later he would walk each of his sisters down the aisle and protectively (perhaps grudgingly or gratefully) guide them to their prospective husbands.
He was thrilled to be the Papa of 10 grandchildren, five from his family with Glenda: Niamh, Ciaran, Reed, Ronan, and Luke, and another five grandchildren from his family with Debi: Ryan, Prussia, Ryleigh, Justin, and Rhys.
Bruce loved his vast extended family. He felt he was blessed to be surrounded by many people he loved throughout his life. He never considered that his care, empathy, solid common-sense and unwavering commitment to his “people” drew everyone to him.
Bruce started his career in the transportation industry at 18, moving progressively up the ladder from Smith Transport to CP Transport and then to Day and Ross before becoming a shareholder and VP of Operations at Armbro Transport. In the early days, he concurrently took post-secondary classes at York University and raised his family. Post-retirement from Armbro, Bruce started working as an Owner-Operator driver with his former Day and Ross team at a newly formed Dove Creek Motor Express. Driving his blinged-out Peterbilt and hanging with the “boys” was a rewarding final phase of his career.
Our enthusiastic role model had a need for speed. Bruce was an avid Enduro Racing enthusiast and fierce competitor, riding with the Oshawa Competition Motorcycle Club and winning several 1st and 2nd place trophies. Bruce could recognize any car, year, and model on sight as a quintessential gearhead. He was determined to settle into the section of heaven reserved for NASCAR drivers and challenge Dale Earnhardt to a race. We shall see if his mother, who has already met up with Bruce, will allow such nonsense.
Bruce was an engineer at heart, repairing anything and everything. From Band-Aids and hugs for his children and grandchildren to truck, car and home repairs. He was good to go as long as he had duct tape and vice grips. He used his duct tape to hold the gauze in place on his own injuries, hold his pants up when he forgot a belt, Vice grips to hold a broken mirror bracket on his Pete, a shower head in place…
Having many interests and hobbies, Bruce was a fervent fan of country music. If asked, Bruce would tell you that music was the thing he loved most, and while country was his favourite, he was happy spending hours discussing musicians, songs, and trends in any genre.
A special thanks to Bruce’s primary caretakers, Regina, his nurse Elsie, Case Manager Rachel, support staff, and the Palliative Care Team at Halton-Peel Home and Community Care, along with Dr. Anthony Lang and his team at Toronto Western Hospital’s Movement Disorder Clinic.
Donations to the Diabetes Association of Canada.