May 29, 1933 - December 14, 2022
Bernard Emile Joseph Duteau (Bart) was born on May 29, 1933. The oldest son of 13 children, he grew up in the small French-Canadian community of St. Paul, Alberta. Bart had a thirst for life, so in his teens he hopped on a train and worked at a logging camp on Vancouver Island before being sent home for being underage. At 18, he joined the navy for a year and then took up various jobs across Canada working for Ontario Hydro, Gulf Oil, Wildwood Surveying in Alberta, and on a survey crew in Thunder Bay. In BC in the 1950's, he surveyed parts of the Coquihalla, Prince George, McBride, and Stewart Cassiar Highways. Bart had several adventures surveying in northern BC - he spoke of a life sleeping in a tent for months at a time often on horseback or by canoe. At one point, he agreed to be tied to the pontoon of a float plane, the last ride out.
In 1961, Bart met the love of his life, his bride, Lorna McFadden, in North Vancouver and married her soon after. While working for the department of highways, Bart and Lorna moved 14 times in ten years throughout BC while raising three children. In 1971, Bart and family settled down in Gibsons, BC, building a home on the bluff and growing lifelong friendships on the coast. Bart gave back to the community through volunteer work with the Gibsons Kinsman Club, working the beer garden at Sea Cavalcade, and forging strong ties with members of St. Mary's Parish. He loved life on the coast. He especially enjoyed fishing for salmon, playing bridge, and camping with his family at Porpoise Bay each summer. Bart was an avid reader, an accomplished gardener, and a hockey fanatic.
Bart will be missed by all who crossed paths with him. Bart is survived by his three children, Micheal (wife Jennifer), Dean (wife Marg) and Maureen (partner Michael), as well as his grandchildren Matthew and Zachary.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023 in Gibsons. Please RSVP to email:
[email protected] by May 1, 2023 if you wish to attend.
