Bruce Hart

After a courageous battle, Bruce Hart went with a peaceful heart to be with our Lord on April 10th, 2025, at the age of 92. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, love, and quiet strength – and now rests in his Heavenly Home.

Bruce will be deeply missed by his beloved wife Anneke, with whom he shared a lifetime of joy. He was a proud father of Stephen (Dale), Cheryl (Dwayne), Chris (Lynn), and Michelle (Dan); a cherished Opa/Grandpa to Jeremy (Krista), Rebecca (Kyle), Courtney, Sydney, Zachary, Emilie, and Rachael; and a great-grandfather to Lincoln, JJ, Abigail, Jack, and Bennett. He is predeceased by his parents, Cecil and Elizabeth; his children Bruce Jr and Kelly; his siblings Harold, Robert, Ross, Gerry, Jack, and Jean. Bruce was the last of the “Hespeler Harts” as the family was known. There is comfort in knowing that they are all reunited again.

Missed already by in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and church family.

Born and raised in Hespeler, Bruce’s roots ran deep. He wore his hometown pride like a badge of honour and loved to tell people that the city listed on his birth certificate was ‘Hespeler’ as opposed to ‘Cambridge’. He told stories of his father setting traps along the Speed River to subsidize the family’s income by selling pelts. There is no doubt that these experiences shaped Bruce’s work ethic, and commitment to family. He looked forward to the Old Boys Reunions and reminisced about them fondly.

Bruce embraced hard work and poured boundless energy into every role he played. He spent many years operating the Puslinch Lake store, then working at the Stamp Enamel and Simplicity before starting his own business, Kleenrite Janitorial and Carpet Cleaning.

Even in retirement he was always on the go, lending a hand, fixing things, and tackling odd jobs with his signature determination. Bruce lived with energy and heart. From an early age, the great outdoors gave him joy - fishing and hunting with his brothers, camping at Killbear, caring for his fishpond, birdwatching, and tending to his and Anneke’s extensive gardens – he loved it all. He formed a special bond with a pair of ducks who would visit him year after year. On his final day at home before entering hospice care, the ducks returned one last time to see him off on his next great adventure.

Bruce’s humour was a gift—his smile infectious, his wit sharp. He was always ready with a joke, a playful tease, or a clever one-liner. His smile was constant, his laughter contagious, his presence uplifting, and his warmth unforgettable. He made the ordinary feel fun – to be around Bruce was to feel lighter. He had a rare ability to make everyone feel welcome and was endlessly selfless (except when it came to sharing his tools!) Beyond this light-heartedness, however, was a deep and unwavering faith in Jesus and love for those he held dear. As so many described Bruce, to know him was to love him. Bruce’s physical absence has left a hole in this world that is not entirely possible to put into words, but his spirit will continue to ripple in the lives of generations to come. In life, he was deeply loved; and so, he always will be.

Bruce’s family invites all who knew and loved him to join them in celebrating his one-of-a-kind spirit. A visitation will be held on Friday April 18th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at T. Little Funeral Home, 223 Main Street. A funeral service will take place on Saturday April 19th at 11:30 am at Beacon Baptist Church, 143 Glenmorris Street. Burial will follow at New Hope Cemetery, 235 Cooper Street. Afterwards, friends and loved ones are invited back to Beacon Baptist for a reception, where stories, memories, and laughter will be shared in honour of our beloved Bruce.

Special thanks go to the close friends, church community, family members, personal support workers at Fairview Mennonite Home, Palliative Care team and Lisaard House for their kindness, compassion, and attentive care throughout this difficult journey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Bruce’s memory to Lisaard House, where he was provided exceptional, loving care in his final days.