Obituary of Rodney Bruce McBride

April 17, 1950 - Port Alberni, British Columbia

May 29, 2023 – Priddis Greens, Alberta

Rodney McBride, beloved husband of Christine (Lees) of Priddis Greens, AB, passed away suddenly at his home on Monday, May 29, 2023, at the age of 73 years.

Rod was born the oldest of five children to Wilma and Gerry McBride in Port Alberni, BC on April 17, 1950. He worked in the lumber business for fifteen years before transitioning to the oil and gas industry in 1983. He had a long and successful career and a passion for the people and relationships that came along with it.

Rod first met Christine at a Grey Cup party in 1974 where he noticed she was being ignored by her date and promptly offered to drive her home. After a month, she met Rod’s parents and four months later they were engaged. The wedding date was pushed back so that Christine could finish her nursing degree, and they finally got married on June 19, 1976, the day after Christine graduated. They first settled in Courtney, BC where Rod and his father started Community Lumber in 1976.

Rod and Christine moved back to Calgary in 1979, and soon after welcomed their first daughter, Brianne. Three years later they welcomed their second daughter, Maren, and a year later their son, Reid. In 1994, Rod’s dream to live in the country was realized and the family moved to an acreage in Millarville, AB.

Rod wore many titles: husband, dad, brother, son, friend, board member, volunteer, golf partner and his favourite title of all, Papa to his six grandchildren.

As a husband, Rod loved to love Christine. Most days after her shift at the hospital Christine would arrive home to a candle lit bath and a glass of wine. As a father, he never missed a dance competition and could always be seen volunteering on the results committee, often preparing Christine with a secret thumbs up or down to indicate if the girls had placed in their dances. Rod was the loudest voice in the cheering section for his kids’ football, volleyball & basketball games, and the main chauffer for any early morning practices. He even ordered a high school football coat to match his son’s and had the initials “JAD” (Just A Dad) sewn on the arm.

Rod was also known for his enthusiastic volunteering. Some of the notable organizations he gave his time to include, the Courtenay Rotary Club, Ducks Unlimited, the ’88 Calgary Winter Olympics, STARS Air Ambulance, the Millarville Racing & Agriculture Society, the Priddis Greens Board of Directors, and the Meota Gas Board of Directors.

Rod also spent many years volunteering as an auxiliary RCMP officer which began in Courtenay, BC. Upon moving to Calgary, he continued this work and became the very first auxiliary RCMP Officer in Alberta. He loved to tell stories of his adventures and the lifelong friends he made during this time.

One of the most cherished and longest commitments was his time as a volunteer with the Calgary Stampede. His volunteering began in 1974 and he served in many roles and capacities in his 40+ years with the organization, concluding his time there on the Board of Directors and finally as an Honorary Life Director. His time and work at the Stampede were among his favourite memories.

In his retired years, you could find Rod spending time with his family, reading a good book, on the golf course, hiking, biking, hunting, and spending winters at their home in Phoenix with his friends playing Mexican Train and drinking a ‘Getchell Special.’

He was always there for a conversation and was never shy to offer his thoughts and opinions. He was a man with a loud voice and a big heart. He was loved and will be dearly missed by all.

Besides his loving wife Christine, Rod is survived by his daughters Brianne (Jason) Link of Cochrane, Maren (Jerrad) Kubik of Calgary, and his son Reid (Jacquelyn) McBride of Kindersley, SK; he is also survived by his six grandchildren, Hunter & Sawyer, Briar & Bronwyn, and Jayla & Kenzie.

Rod is also survived by his sisters Leslie (Jack) Norman of Atlanta, Georgia, Debbie (Jim) Mitchell of Nanoose Bay, BC, Shelley (Morley) McKeachie of Roberts Creek, BC, and Ian (Kate) McBride of London, England, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Palomino Room – BMO Centre, Calgary Stampede Park (1410 Olympic Way SE, Calgary) on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 2:00p.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed at www.MHFH.com.

In Lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to STARS Air Ambulance, an organization Rod gave many hours of his time to.

In living memory of Rod, a tree will also be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.