August 22, 1937 – December 29, 2015

Bill lost his courageous battle with lung cancer on December 29th, with his wife by his side.

He leaves to mourn: his wife of 58 years, Jeanette, his two children, Roger Wise (Darlene) of Kamloops and Colette Bercu (Dan) of Nashville, his two grandchildren Stephen Weisgerber of Kamloops and Alysha Weisgerber (Mike Kelly) of Kelowna, and two great-grandchildren Tayler and Brady Kelly. He also leaves two sisters Mary (Jim) Buscholl of Medicine Hat and Marlene (Ron) Duchscherer of Prelate, Sask., and three brothers Joe Weisgerber of Myrnam, Alberta, Ed Weisgerber (Irene) of Medicine Hat and Michael (Anne) of Maple Creek, Sask., as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents Barbara and Mike Weisgerber and his twin brothers Victor and Wilfred Weisgerber.

Bill was born on the family farm in the municipality of Sceptre, Sask. He started to break horses at an early age, worked as a farmhand and cowboyed for the Prairie Federal Cattlemen’s Association in Saskatchewan. After he married, he decided he needed a trade, went to trade school in Moose Jaw and Saskatoon, studying to be a carpenter, and apprenticed under Jeanette’s uncle, Sol Kosolofski. He branched out on his own, and, with his brother Wilf, subcontracted as a finishing carpenter in Saskatoon. In 1970, he moved his family to Thompson, Manitoba, where he was a foreman for Plainsman Homes. He soon decided this was not for him and went back to finishing carpentry with a friend. In 1972, the family moved to Kamloops where he has finished hundreds of houses, condos and town houses. Bill loved his work and took great pride in his work. He was one of the best. He never wanted to quit working, and it was a sad day when at age 70 years he had a stroke and lost his vision, forcing him to put down his hammer.

Bill was a carpenter by trade, but remained a cowboy all of his life. He was never happier than when he had his own horses on his acreage in the Tranquille Valley. He loved to fish, hunt, camp, go to rodeos and spend time with family.

The family wish to thank all of the doctors, staff and nurses who cared for him at the hospital in Community Health and all of the staff at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home. Your compassion and empathy shown to your patients and their families is outstanding.

The Cowboy’s Prayer

Our gracious and heavenly Father, we
pause in the midst of this occasion,
mindful of the many blessings You’ve
bestowed upon us. We ask, Lord, that
You be with us in this arena as we pray
You will guide us in life’s arena. We
don’t ask You for any special favours.
We don’t ask to always draw around a
chute fighting horse, or to never break
a barrier. Nor do we ask for all
daylight runs, or not to draw the steer
that won’t lay. Just help us, Lord, so
we may live our lives in such a manner
that when we make that last ride that is
inevitable to the country up there,
where the grass grows lush, green and
stirrup high, and the water runs cool,
clear and deep, that You will tell us, as
our last Judge, that our entry fees are paid.
Amen.

The Reverend Father Andrew L’Heureux will celebrate the Funeral Mass on Saturday, January 16th at 1:00 p.m. in Sacred Heart Cathedral, 255 Nicola Street, Kamloops. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall (lower level of the Cathedral).

Should friends desire, donations to the Kamloops Hospice Association, 72 Whiteshield Crescent South, Kamloops, B.C. V2E 2S9 would be appreciated in Bill’s memory.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com.

• Date : 2015-12-29
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.