Brian William Shumka

Brian William Shumka, age 72, suddenly passed away on January 7, 2015 of Pancreatic Cancer at the South Calgary Health Campus. He was a beloved husband to Bonnie for 42 years and a caring father to his son Carl, and daughter Wendy (Ross) Bailey, as well as a devoted and adored grandpa to Kaelen, Rhys and Avynn Bailey and Tia McAulay. He is also survived by sisters Carroll and Janet, and several nieces and nephews. Brian was predeceased by his parents Beatrice and William Shumka.

Brian was born December 21, 1942 in Vernon Hospital, Vernon, B.C. but grew up in the small logging community of Lumby just outside of that town. As a young boy he would accompany his father building the logging roads, driving the bulldozer and involved with those aspects of lumber production. At the age of 17 he left school and joined the R.C.A.F. He had postings from one end of Canada to the other as well as being stationed in France for a few years. He played trumpet in the marching band but his job was a radar operator on airplanes. His dream had been to be a pilot but that was not to be because he wore glasses. He served for ten years and his final posting was Penhold, Alberta. He returned briefly to Lumby to try lumber jacking again but did not enjoy that job.

Brian returned to Alberta to Edmonton and joined the K Division of the R.C.M.P. as a civilian member. He was a radio dispatcher initially but when computer technology started to be introduced to the R.C.M.P. he was sent to Ottawa for computer courses. His job then became maintaining and repairing computers. As children arrived he did not want to work shifts any longer so applied to Amoco Canada in Calgary. In June 1980 Brian became Chief Computer Purchaser at Amoco finally becoming Computer Security Officer. Due to downsizing, Brian then became a Computer Consultant at various offices, including Suncor and Agricore. He retired at age 67.

Brian enjoyed camping with his children and teaching them where the best berries were and looking for "beauty rocks". He had a lapidary machine and polished rocks for both his children and grandchildren and extended family. We spent many vacations on Vancouver Island on both east and west sides and collected shells of all kinds to bring home. Brian also became interested in fireworks due to a neighbour's business and then developed and built the electronic devices that enabled remote lighting of the fireworks, eventually adding music to the display. He enjoyed problem solving in all things.

Brian was an amateur astrologist for his entire life and taught his children the constellations on camping trips. This love was also passed onto his grandchildren. In retirement he bought bigger, more powerful telescopes and spent many a winter and summer night watching for comets and various night skies, as well as eclipses. He was a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. His passion is still strong in all of his family and will be carried on.

Cremation has taken place and no service will be held as per Brian's wishes. Donations may be made in his memory to www.pancreaticcancercanada.ca.