I was once a student of his. I attended Balmoral Junior High where he was a math teacher and the Vice Prinicpal. He was among my favourite teachers! I still remember when he lost the tip of his thumb and he would stick it up his one nostril. Also, when he would flaunt his $1000 bill! He was so enjoyable to have as a teacher and he made the class fun to be in! I am so sorry to the family for the loss of such a wonderful man! May all your fond memories make the grieving easier.

This makes me and my wife very sad! I had so much respect for him,

for who he was as a person, and what he did for our business.

I will miss his smile and his friendship.

My condoleances to his family and his friends.

Your friends

Yves and Susan Milord

My sympathies to the family. Bill was a mentor to me on the board of the Canadian Associatio of fairs and Exhibtion. What a great man.

When I came into work one Monday morning, a co-worker was overjoyed that his daughter had received a scholarship to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. He went on to describe the kind man who delivered the award, Bill Sumner. It was not the first time I was proud to know this man and his family. What a great privilege to have spent the most formative years of my life around such an incredible family. I believe I am a better person, wife and mom because of the lessons I learned from the Sumner family. Thank you for sharing your love, your values and, of course, your chili over the years! Bill will be missed but he has touched the lives of so many and I believe we can take comfort in having known him in any capacity.

My condolences to Bills family. I first met him when I worked on he Midway team at Stampede and then made sure to say hi every July after that when we were both volunteers. I could always count on a kiss on the cheek in the Blue Room from Bill, and I loved talking shop with him. He’ll be missed.

We were saddened to hear of our good friend Bills passing. Our condolences go out to all the Sumner family as well as Karen. He was a friend of ours for many years dating back to the old Ottawa Exhibition days at Landsdowne Park to the fun times we had with him at the Calgary Stampede. We will miss him like everyone else but it sure was great to have him as a friend over the years. What a fun guy.

We a very saddened to hear of Bills passing. We have wonderful memories of him. Loved his candy apples when he had his food stand. He always had a smile and happy to see you. Bill was a good friend he will be missed by many.

Rest in peace Bill

We are saddened to hear of Bill's passing. We have many great memories of working with Bill and Brooke in the Fair business and as our friend. Our deepest condolences to Bill's family.

Bill, Myrna, Meagan and Jordan Ekelund

My condolences to all the family. I have many great memories with Bill from wrapping endless candy apples in the old rolloff trailer when I was 12 to the awesome egg salad sandwiches he would make when leaving for Edmonton K-days. His humour was always there and many a late night was spent with family laughing at the kitchen table after a hard day work at the Stampede. So many great times I can’t list them all. Bill and Joan will forever have a special place in my heart and I will always cherish the time we spent together.

I am very saddened to hear of Bill’s passing. I went to Rideau with Geoff and knew Bill well from Rideau as well as the Stampede and the Glencoe. It was always so good to see Bill. He always had a warm friendly greeting and I always enjoyed our exchanges. I also knew Bob well through the Stampede. So very sad. My sincere condolences to Bill’s family. I know you will be comforted in the months and years ahead by many wonderful memories of a truly great guy.

Dear Karen,

I feel your pain...

Helen Vik WHV Calgary

Dear Sumner family,

I was sad to learn of Bill's death from another Lakeview United Church person, Ron Gillean. The news sent me back to many important memories I have with him and your family--memories I will always value. May Spirit attend to all your needs, and may you find comfort in the promises God has now fulfilled for Bill. With you, Diane.

To Dr. Glen Sumner and the extended Sumner family; and to Bill’s friend Karen Lievers. Bill was a longtime Glencoe mate and a friend. He was always engaging when we encountered one another and I will miss our occasional informal chats in the locker room or cafeteria. My condolences at this time of loss.

On behalf of your friends at the Canadian National Exhibition, our deepest condolences. Our thoughts are with you. Bill will be missed by his friends at the CNE.

Floyd and Ahnne Colins

To Bill's family and Karen

Sending Love and Strength to all.

Bill and I were best friends from Grade one through working together as business partners. Bill was 16 yrs. old when he started working on the summer fair circuit with my family and became a partner with me in 1967. I eventually sold my interest to Brooke Wray, Bill's brother in law. I am pleased that 42 years later it is still going with great success.

Bill always loved working and being with people. So glad Ahnne and I flew to Calgary to visit Bill just before Christmas. We spoke about our past and shared many memories and laughs.

Bill and I travelled by train through Copper Canyon in Mexico Nov. 2017. It was an amazing trip and Bill, always the life of the party, loved meeting our travelling companions and loved the train travel and the 60 plus trestles and tunnels, as well as the amazing switchbacks to make all of the grades.

Am sorry our travel plans have ended, Covid didn’t help. I will miss my buddy but will never forget him.

Floyd

We send our deepest sympathy and condolences to Bill's children and family. We are so sad to read of his passing. Tom and I shared the worlds of Joan and Bill at the Glencoe curling and teaching for the Calgary Board of Education. We always looked for Bill's concession stands and enjoyed those treats. He was so kind to help with a cotton candy fundraiser at one of our Crescent Heights High School events! We remember good times during and after our curling games! Great visits and fun!

I hope you find great comfort in your wonderful family memories and your faith in God's Easter Promise of Life Everlasting.

Blessings to All, Fran Cormack

Bill and I served together on the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions. He was a gentle soul and a gentleman, in every sense of the word. He gave more than he took. He knew whereof he spoke or he kept quiet. He loved the fair business as much as anyone could. I never knew him as a teacher, but I'll lay odds he was great at that, too. To his family, especially the Billbrooke clan, I offer my sincere condolences. May he rest in well-deserved peace.

I have fond memories of Bill. The brokerage I worked for insured his business and I always enjoyed his visits that would rapidly move from insurance discussions to so many more interesting topics. He seemed to relish teasing the various staff who he’d interact with and was a welcome visitor. My condolences to you all.

My condolences to the family my first job was with Billbrooke concessions. I remember seeing Bill every summer and having a long conversation about what he had been up to and him asking about my family. He was such a kind gentle person and will be missed greatly.

Dear Glen, Janine, Carolyn and all your family members,

My dad shared your dad Bill’s obituary with me today. I read the words you wrote about Bill’s amazing life and I was reminded of his smile, his fun “dad” jokes and his eagerness to support all his children in whatever endeavours inspired you all. He was keen to drive the neighbourhood kids to events in his shag carpet wall lined full sized van! Remember that van! We were very blessed growing up in Lakeview and especially on Law Drive where your family was one of the original families to move in and help create wonderful lives for everyone, all the children, living on the street. Your dad and mom opened their home and shared their lives with all the neighbourhood children. I know that the celebration of life you create to honour your dad at Lakeview United Church will be a lovely event filled with many wonderful stories of Bill in all aspects of his life. I wish you all peace and hope living without your dad becomes a little easier knowing that his legacy lives on in all of you.

Karen Blakely

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Bill when I went out to Canmore with Julia in the summer of 2021. I was immediately greeted by his kindness and smile when I first met him. I fondly remember sitting with him as he told me about his days running the concession stands at the Calgary Stampede. Even in that one interaction, it was so clear he lived a passionate life and he thrived off of doing good for others, a legacy he has passed down to his children and grandchildren. Moreover, he introduced me to the famous cheese buns from Calgary!

I am so glad I got the chance to know Bill and see how special he was.

My deepest condolences are to Glen, Janine, Carolyn, and their families during this time. He will be missed dearly.

Sending all my love,

Megan Domski

Janine, Simon, Julia, Charlie, Carolyn (and all the rest of your family), I am so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Bill for the first time during Julia's freshman year at William Smith at one of the many WS Soccer "parent meetings" held at O'Brien's. He was really happy to meet me because I grew up so close to you in Calgary, and every time I saw him afterwards, he made me feel like we had known each other for much longer. What a sweet man. Kind. Caring. Always a smile on his face. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He raised a wonderful family and I know you will all miss him dearly. Keep those most excellent memories close and he will always be nearby. Much Love to you all.

Barbara Hemphill, Stephen, Merilyn, Sam and Allison Hinrichs

Mr summer was a well liked and respected teacher and vice or assistant principal at FEO junior high school here in Calgary during the mid 1980s when i attended there from 1984 to 1987 he treated me with a lot of love and kindness and respect I have some handicaps but he was extremely gentle with me and to fellow students my deepest condolences and sympathies to his family and friends god bless you during your time of loss sincerely jim krueger

Bill was a long time neighbor of ours and much loved in our community So many great memories of our chats and yearly barbecues we had over the years

As Al said He was one of the good ones

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at the difficult time

Al and Marta Fraser

Bill was a giver of all of his abilities. There will be a void in the hearts of all that knew him. May he rest now.