Obituary of Bruce Loftus Goodall

August 31, 1938 – Edmonton, Alberta

August 13, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Our dad was a great dad. He died on Tuesday morning.

Bruce was born in 1938 to parents Loftus and Jean Goodall. His dad worked for the Alberta Department of Agriculture as a seed inspector. He cleared a forested acre of land next to the Mill Creek Ravine in Edmonton, AB, and built a charming wooden house with a magnificent fieldstone fireplace. Bruce told us wonderful stories about playing and exploring next to the ravine with his younger brother Paul. They would capture frogs along the ravine and sneak into the back of the community church, where they would release the frogs down the central aisle during the Sunday service. Bruce’s lifelong love of nature and the outdoors was fostered by his mom – who was a terrific gardener and lover of nature, and by both duck hunting and fishing as a family. Bruce’s first friend was a little boy named Jack Sandercock. The friendship formed when they discovered salamanders had invaded Jack’s sandbox in the night by taking up residence in the tiny garage they had constructed for their toy cars. 

As a young boy, Bruce was a paperboy for the Edmonton Journal and eventually became a branch manager. With this money, he bought his first car at age seventeen. He attended Rutherford School and Old Scona in Edmonton and later studied Petroleum Engineering at the University of Alberta, graduating in 1960.

In Bruce’s first year of university, he and a few of his engineering classmates took jobs in Banff. They proudly strutted along the Banff Avenue strip in their engineering jackets. Bruce noticed a girl who was about 16. There was a dance at the Cascade dance hall that evening, and Bruce approached her and asked if she would go to the dance with his friend. She replied, “No, my father is expecting me home from choir practice.” Bruce later explained, “The sale begins when the client says no.” Ten years later, he married that girl. A sign in our house read, ‘A fisherman lives here with the best catch of his life.’ Eveline really was the love of his life. He adored her. 

Bruce’s first job was with Shell and was based on the recommendation of his uncle, Red Goodall, who was trained as a reservoir engineer. He joined the oil and gas department of TD Bank in 1971. Overflowing with great business ideas, he left the bank and opened Lintus Resources and then Investor’s Petroleum Consultants in 1976. He soon assembled a wonderful and talented staff who loved working with him. He loved his work and always found it exciting and creative. Because of his sharp intellect and cheerful humour, he was well-liked. Bruce was fun.

Bruce had many hobbies throughout his life. He was very adventurous and even tried his hand at paragliding. He took up whitewater kayaking in his 30s and bought a couple of kayaks, which were quickly misappropriated by his sons and their teenage friends. Our friends all called him ‘Bruce’ and loved to invite him to come kayaking. He frequently accepted and was largely undeterred by his inability to master a consistent kayak roll. He also loved boogie boarding in Kauai. His skill was restricted to letting giant waves crash down on him as he was belched forcefully by the belly of the foaming wave. He would routinely emerge with a giant smile on his face.  At age 74, Bruce embarked on a series of whitewater rafting trips down the Salmon River in Idaho. He was delighted to share this adventure with his grandkids.

Bruce loved camping, travel, and reading, and above all, he loved fishing.

Most of Bruce’s lifelong friends were fishermen, and he considered himself fortunate to have fished some of the best brown trout streams in the world. He continued to make fisher-friends throughout his life. His favorite trout streams were in Alberta, and his very favourite place to fish was the Fallen Timber. This is where he first taught his kids to fish, and then later, his grandkids.

Bruce was involved in the charities Trout Unlimited and the Alberta Wilderness Association. Throughout his life, he was passionately committed to the preservation of fish habitat and wilderness corridors.  His commitment to the goals of these charities was instrumental in the completion of many successful projects.

We are comforted with the hope that he has found a quiet section of creek, and he is now wading deeper to pursue a fish he has just seen rise.

Bruce will be remembered as gentle, generous, loving and kind throughout his life. His wife of 59 years, Eveline, will miss him daily. He was loved by his two sons Chris and Michael and his daughters-in-law, Janet and Cindy. He was adored by his four grandchildren, Lauchlann, Kai, River and Micah. He will be missed by his nieces and nephews, his countless friends and coworkers throughout his life. 

We also wanted to extend a special thank you to the loving staff at Agape Hospice, who took such good care of Bruce.

A Memorial Service will be held for Bruce at Hillhurst United Church (1227 Kensington Close NW, Calgary, AB) on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Church Hall.  

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to view the live stream on the day of the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Trout Unlimited Canada, https://tucanada.org, the Alberta Wilderness Association, 455 – 12th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Y9 Telephone: (403) 283-2025.  www.albertawilderness.ca,  or Agapé Hospice, 1302 - 8 Avenue N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1B8 Telephone: (403) 282-6588.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Bruce’s family here.

In living memory of Bruce Goodall, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-276-2296.

Click to Watch Bruce's Memorial Service