MATTHEWS, Bruce
Posted: October 11th, 2019
MATTHEWS
Bruce Matthews loving husband to Margareta Matthews, father to Stan Matthews (Lana) and Ingrid Matthews, grandfather to Kyla and Aleena Matthews, passed away peacefully in St. Michaels Palliative Care on October 7th, 2019 at the age of 85 years. Bruce is also survived by his loving English family, Joyce Evans, Derek Lane (Dorothy) and Julie Newman (Gary).
Bruce was born in England in 1934, he traveled the world with the British Merchant Navy prior to meeting the love of his life and moving to Sweden to marry and start a family. Bruce immigrated to Canada with his family in 1975. His passion in life was soccer where he was actively involved in the sport in Southern Alberta for over forty years. Bruce is affectionately known by many as coach.
A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held on October 19th, 2019 at 2pm held at Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral home at 703 – 13 Street N.
For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Amyloidosis foundation.
To send condolences, please visit www.generationsfh.ca
One day when I first immigrated to Canada in 1991 Bruce was running a Cosmos practice at Churchill fields and my cousin & I happened to be kicking the ball around a few fields away.
Bruce walked over & watched us for a few minutes then asked us to join the team right then and there.
Our family couldn’t rub 2 dimes together at the time so we couldn’t afford it…Bruce talked to the association & said cmon there is only a few games left in the season & I played with Cosmos for a good few years after thanks to Bruce.
My condolences to this great mans family.
Because of him (& 2 other great coaches) we donate to athletes in our community who cannot afford to pay to play.
RIP coach.
Bruce coached a whole generation of us in soccer for years. He had an awesome smile, he taught us all
aspects of the sport and how to behave like decent guys on and off the pitch.
He had a great sense of humour. and treated us like like young adults. When I think of my Lethbridge teen years, he played a big part, for many of us.
I’m sorry to hear of his passing, the world lost a good guy he won’t be forgotten and I’m a better person for having met and spent time with Bruce. The first tattoos I can Remember seeing were the ones on his forearms. I think they were anchors.
my condolences to Stan and the rest of the family.
Ingrid I am very sorry to hear about your dad passing away. He always had a kind word when I would see him. I would like to send mine and my Dad ( Tracy Edgar) deepest condolences to you and your family.
I was sad to hear that Bruce passed away. I recently started playing soccer again after a 30-year gap. Slowly, and I mean slowly, the skills I developed as a boy in Lethbridge, buried deep in a middle-aged man’s body, started to come back and I rediscovered the joy of the game and being part of a team. I’m grateful for having had the good luck to be coached by Bruce and, looking back, better appreciate his love for the game, how he helped me develop as a player, his contribution to the sport and the community, and his positive spirit. A good man.