Rooke – William (Bill) Edwin Rooke of Brooks, beloved husband of the late Mabel Rooke, passed away peacefully in Brooks, with his loving family by his side on Friday, April 1st, 2016 at the age of 92 years. Dad was born on April 19th, 1923 in Pollockville, Alberta. At the tender age of 15, Dad started working for neighbors in the Pollockville area. In 1942, he was conscripted to the Army, upon completion of his training he was transferred to the Air Force. Dad served overseas as a tail gunner, and at war’s end he was discharged as a Flight Sergeant. Upon returning home he purchased his first truck and hauled grain, cattle and coal. On March 18th, 1949, Dad and Mom were married in Hanna, AB. They farmed on the Stewart place and continued trucking. In January 1953, during a blizzard, Terrie was born in Hanna. A year later Dad and Mom moved to Wardlow and purchased the general store, and expanded their trucking business. Imperial Oil approached Dad in 1956 to build the bulk station. March 1957, they brought Lynn home, across the ice on the Red Deer River and on a blazing hot day in July, 1961 a third daughter, Colleen was born. From 1945 to 1989 they worked tirelessly within a successful business. In 1989, Dad and Mom retired to Brooks, where Dad pursued his passion for woodworking and performed many renovations to their homes. Dad was an active member of the Berry Creek Community Club and enjoyed curling at the Pollockville Curling Club. He had a great love of animals and always had a dog or cat by his side. Dad and Mom enjoyed travelling far and wide with family and many good friends. Dad was predeceased by Mabel, his devoted and loving wife of 65 years; parents, Ernest and Gwen Rooke; siblings, Gwen Williams, Mabel Bradford (Russell), Violet Pepper (Roy) and Lionel Rooke (Nancy); grandson, Jordan Gardner and son-in-law Brad Gardner. Dad is survived by his three loving daughters, Terrie Hager and her husband Ron, Lynn Gardner and her fiance’ Don Cox and Colleen Davidson and her husband Keith; seven grandchildren, Tyler Hager, Kelsey Tremblay and her husband Lorne and Tyson Hager and his fiance’ Krysten Boogaard, Haley Biddlecombe and her husband Kyle, Quinn Gardner and his wife Jori, Kyle and Logan Davidson; four great grandchildren, Brooklyn and McKinley Tremblay, Edward Hager and Emery Biddlecombe, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 6th at 2:00 PM from St. Alban’s Anglican Church, Brooks. Reverend Ken Wells officiating. In memory of Bill, if friends desire, memorial tribute may be made to either Nanton Lancaster Society, Box 1051, Nanton, Alberta T0L 1R0 or Brooks and District Health Foundation, for Dialysis Machine, Bag 300, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B3.
We will miss you Dad, we trust that you are at peace with family and friends.
Dad, you were the best damn Gunner to leave the station yet!
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD. AND
CREMATORIUM, BROOKS, ALBERTA
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