Bruce Raymond Closter
August 17, 1941 - December 21, 2025
In Loving Memory
Bruce Raymond Closter
Bruce Raymond Closter, most recently of Armstrong BC, passed away at Vernon Jubilee Hospital on December 21st, 2025 at the age of 84 years. He suffered complications from a short illness weathered from the comfort of his home.
A native British Columbian he was born in Prince Rupert on August 17, 1941 to parents Henry and Lama Closter. Growing up years were spent in Port Edward where both parents worked at Inverness Cannery, before the family moved to East Vancouver. Bruce is predeceased by his parents and siblings Jean (Bob) and Daisy (Pat). He is survived by his sister Margaret (Abe) of South Surrey and brother Gary (Anne Marie) of Delta.
In June 1976 Bruce met Kathy McRae on the Vancouver Terminal where Kathy was a Canada Customs Officer. Married in 1979, Bruce and Kathy shared close to 50 years together enjoying travel and adventures throughout Canada, the UK and Ireland, Europe, Mexico, Australia, NZ, Asia and the US. They raised and raced thoroughbred horses from their Aldergrove farm.
Bruce was a proud and supportive father of daughters Jennifer and Kim and sons Doug and Steve. He also cherished six grandchildren: Tessa, Jordan, Kyle, Shanna, Kalaya and Kallum and three great grandchildren Tenley, Tianna and Tanelle.
Bruce had 49 years of waterfront experience ranging from his early years of longshore service to his last position as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He retired from TSI in 2004.
After retirement Bruce and Kathy settled in the Shuswap. He boated every summer on Shuswap Lake and loved ocean fishing in Rennell Sound, Haida Gwaii. His favourite winter pastime was whale watching in PV, Mexico. He played a mean game of pool with his children and friends and enjoyed politics, horse racing and daily cribbage matches.
Friends are warmly invited to celebrate Bruce’s life with his family on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at the Fort Langley Golf Course (9782 McKinnon Crescent, Langley) from 2 to 4:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served.
In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to your local food bank.
Arrangements entrusted to
Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-546-7237
Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services:
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Comments: 15
So sorry Kathy to hear of Bruce’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
Bruce loved life and will be missed by so many.
Sincere sympathy Kathy. I’m sorry I never met him. Bruce sounds like a wonderful person. Great that you have all that family support. Take care of yourself, love Babs
To Kathy and family.
We are so sorry for the loss of your husband,father, grandfather and brother.
Condolences during this very difficult time. Our thoughts are with you all.
Derrick and Roselynn
Our thoughts are with you Kathy and your family . You have lost a wonderful guy. Bruce demonstrated every day his love of life, of friends, and of family. I feel privileged to have known Bruce all these years as a friend and also working for him at TSI.
May your family and friends bring you support and comfort.
I’ve known Bruce since 1972, we were coworkers together at Empire Stevadore. We had many good times together and he will be missed by the industry he served. Condolences to his family.
I will be attending his Celebration of Life.
Sincerely: Barry Profaizer
Kathy – So sorry to hear that Bruce has left us – he was one rugged, robust individual.
Love the write up – we should all be so fortunate to have this sense of adventure.
Regards to the kids.
Andrew and Lakshmi
Kathy and family,
Bruce was such a lovely man, devoted to you all.
My heartfelt condolences at this sad time.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
If one looked for the definition of a wonderful ” brother-in-law” you’d look no further than Bruce Closter. He brought his exciting energy to every family reunion. We will all miss him and his stories. Truly, many laughs.
Oh Bruce! You thought we weren’t watching! But year after year and day after day we saw your kind and generous and gentle heart in action. We saw the many ways you showed love to your Kat – and your kids.
“Wing to wing and oar to oar,
you travelled.”
Your friends
Theresa & Lorne
We were working together at Van Term when you and Bruce met. He stole my roommate! That being said, I couldn’t be happier to see you two get together. When I returned from the Yukon, I lived in your basement suite and got to know Bruce that much more. We sure had many laughs together.
The love you shared over nearly 50 years continues…cherished memories in the family you built together and in the many lives he touched. His spirit, kindness, and devotion will live on through his children, grandchildren, and all who were blessed to know him. May you feel comfort in knowing that love like this is forever and that he will always be with you. May God hold you close and comfort you now and always. Love you Kathy.
Dear Kathy and family,
We are so sorry to hear this news. Our deepest condolences to all of you. I’m adding a favourite poem of mine, by W.B. Yeats. After reading about Bruce and his life with you Kathy, it seems appropriate:
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
Great person with a super sense of humor. He made coming to work a joy. Will be very much missed. Condolences to all of his family.
Hi Kathy and family,
We are sorry to hear of your loss. That’s a great write up about Bruce. Our whole family got to meet Bruce in 2014 when you trekked to our family farm near Wilkie. We all treasured that visit. When reading about the Thorobred horses you and Bruce were involved in it pointed to how you two were such a great match. We all would agree that you Kathy would be top on the list of our McRae relatives that would carry that passion for horses throughout yours and of course Bruce’s wonderful life story. It sure sounds like there would have been a great crowd to greet Bruce at the gates!!!!
Love,
Lester and Pam
Dear cousin Kathy and family,
I am so very sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing.
Although I never met him the obituary told the story, in short ,of what a special person you shared so many wonderful years with. All of your family will treasure the very special times and memories, and they will be with you always. My love and hugs to you and your family.
Dear cousin Kathy and family,
Our deepest sympathies to you and all of your family on Bruce’s passing..Although we never met after reading his write up I can see he was
a very wonderfull person..you will all have all the great memories to help carry you through this difficult time in your lives..our prayers are
with you all…take care !!
Love Don & Faye …