JOHN BRUCE BOLDT , FORMERLY OF CLARESHOLM , ALBERTA, PASSED AWAY OCTOBER 17, 2000 AT THE VULCAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE AT THE AGE OF 87 YEARS.
JOHN WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 28, 1913 AT GALAHAD, ALBERTA TO CHARLES AND DAISY BOLDT. HE ATTENDED BEDFORD SCHOOL NEAR ALLIANCE AND HIS JUNIOR HIGH AT GALAHAD SCHOOL. AT THE AGE OF SEVENTEEN HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY AND JOHN QUIT SCHOOL TO RUN THE FAMILY FARM NEAR GALAHAD. IN 1942 HE JOINED THE CALGARY HIGHLANDERS AND SERVED AS A SNIPER IN GERMANY, FRANCE, BELGIUM AND HOLLAND. IN 1945 AFTER RECEIVING AN HONOURABLE DISCHARGE, JOHN BOUGHT A FARM AT MERNA DISTRICT, NEAR ALLIANCE, ALBERTA. IN 1948 HE MARRIED RUBY MARIE DRAGER AND TOGETHER THEY RAN THE FARM UNTIL 1973 WHEN THEY RETIRED AND MOVED TO SUMMERLAND, B.C. IN 1976 THEY MOVED TO CLARESHOLM AND IN 1983 RUBY PASSED AWAY. JOHN CONTINUED TO RESIDE IN CLARESHOLM AND IN 1990 HE MARRIED HIS SECOND WIFE PATRICIA MAYFIELD. IN 1995 PATRICIA PASSED AWAY AND IN 1996 JOHN MOVED INTO THE PORCUPINE LODGE IN CLARESHOLM WHERE HE LIVED UNTIL THE SPRING OF 1998 WHEN HE MOVED TO THE LONG TERM CARE UNIT OF THE VULCAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE WHERE HE HAS CONTINUED TO RESIDE SINCE.
JOHN LOVED HIS FAMILY AND SPECIAL TIMES TOGETHER. IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS HE ENJOYED HORSEBACK RIDING AND WORKING WITH CATTLE. HE HAD NUMEROUS INTERESTS LIKE WOOD WORKING , PIONEER HISTORY, HISTORY OF VARIOUS WARS, COLLECTING ANTIQUES AND ROCKS, HIKING, BIRD WATCHING AND ICE FISHING. HE HAD A SOFT SPOT FOR ANIMALS AND FARM LIFE, AND WAS STILL RIDING THE TRUCK AND COMBINE IN HIS EIGHTIES. JOHN ESPECIALLY ENJOYED TRAVELLING IN HIS MOTORHOME. HE TOURED TO ALASKA, NORTH WEST TERRITORIES AND UP AND DOWN THE FOOTHILLS. THERE WAS NO CAMP GROUND IN ALBERTA THAT JOHN HADN’T CAMPED IN AND HIS FAVOURITE PLACE TO CAMP IN WAS CLOSE TO A RUNNING STREAM.
JOHN WAS KNOWN TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS A VERY CARING MAN AND GENEROUS AT HEART. EVEN IN HIS SEVENTIES HE WAS STILL TRYING TO HELP OTHERS OUT. FOR FIVE YEARS HE HELPED THEM TO SHOVEL SNOW OFF THEIR ROOFS AND BESIDE THEIR HOUSES. HE LOVED TO MEET PEOPLE AND STRIKE UP CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, EVEN STRANGERS. HE HAD A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOUR AND WAS ALWAYS TELLING THE RESIDENTS AND NURSES AT THE HOSPITAL CUTE JOKES.
JOHN WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE SEDGEWICK, SUMMERLAND AND CLARESHOLM LEGIONS WHERE HE WAS ACTIVE WITH MEALS ON WHEELS, 4-H AND BINGOS.
LOVING FATHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS DONNA BOLDT OF EDMONTON, DORIS (LES) REGULA OF SHERWOOD PARK, A SON DANNY (KATHY) BOLDT, TWO GRANDCHILDREN EVANGELINE AND DAYTON BOLDT ALL OF CLARESHOLM, A NIECE CAROL LENGEL OF LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.
JOHN WAS PREDECEASED BY A BROTHER PHILLIP BOLDT, THREE SISTERS CONSTANCE (DONALD) SPLITT, KATHRYN BOOMER, MARY (WILLARD) KISCH AND HIS PARENTS CHARLES AND DAISY BOLDT.
A MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS HELD SATURDAY OCTOBER 21, 2000 AT 10:00 A.M. AT THE VULCAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE WITH CHAPLAIN RUSSELL QUANTZ OFFICIATING.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, TRIBUTE’S IN JOHN’S MEMORY COULD BE MADE TO EITHER THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY 2ND FLR. 215 – 12 AVE. S.E. CALGARY T2G 1A2 OR THE LONG TERM HEALTH CARE UNIT OF THE VULCAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE BOX 810, VULCAN, TOL 2BO.
ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME. DIRECTORS. TELEPHONE 1-403-485-2633 E-MAIL CONDOLENCES TO vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.