PETER EDWARD BULBACK

September 15, 1951 – February. 24, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father Peter Edward Bulback on Wednesday February 24, 2021.

 

Peter was born on September 15, 1951 in Churchill, MB, grew up in Portage la Prairie and eventually settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was predeceased by both parents, Roberta and Fred and his sister Bobby Bain. Left to mourn his loss are his two children Curtis and Angela (Darryll), his four grandchildren (Hayden, James, Ryan Mae and Dylan) as well as Dianne Bulback and Marlene Toews.

 

If you knew him, you would know that Peter’s first love was music. He started learning how to play guitar way back in 1962 after discovering the incredible band The Beatles. Peter was obsessed with this band and convinced his father to help purchase his first Rickenbacker guitar to emulate his favourite band. At the age of 16, he formed his first band, Sights of Sound which consisted of Peter, Don Davis, Bill White, and Dick Boychuk. Later he formed another band, For Pete Sake and also joined the band, Glass Staircase. During these younger years of rock and roll, this is where Peter and Dianne formed lasting friendships with Ray and Donna Klyne.

 

Peter held various jobs in his younger years which included working as a hairstylist, a labourer at BC Pea Growers, a line cook at Campbell Soup Company and an Assistance Manager at Safeway. Peter also joined the military for a very brief period of time before deciding to come back to Manitoba to marry Dianne.

 

In 1971 Peter and Dianne married in Portage La Prairie. Together they had their first child, Curtis in 1973 and in 1978 welcomed their second child Angela.

 

They settled in Brandon. However, music was Dad’s calling so in 1981, Peter moved his family to Winnipeg where he started work within the sales department at Yamaha Music within the Hudson Bay Company. This is where he met his co-worker and good friend Ron Steiner. When Yamaha within The Bay eventually closed, Peter transferred over to sales in major appliances at the downtown location. He retired working at the St. Vital Bay store. Peter met so many great people throughout his career with The Bay including Neil Cameron, Gary Colyer, Janet Walbridge, and Ray Haslett.

 

Peter’s other hobbies were metal detecting, camping, and thrift shopping.

 

Peter was part of the Bronx Park Metal Detecting Club back in the 1980s formed by OK John. This is where Peter met and formed great lasting friendships with Oris Wazny and Don Kish.  They would often get together in search of treasures. Peter was quite proud one year to be asked to locate a family urn that was lost on the family property. His story was published in the metal detecting magazine and he was also a TV star one year when a local news company asked to interview him and other members of the club.

 

Each summer the family would pack up and head out to Grand Beach, at first camping in a little canvas tent before finding North Wind Resorts run by Doris, Bert and their large black dog Ebony. No need to bring food because Dick, owner of the Blueberry Patch would cook up a great breakfast. Just before going to Dick’s for dinner, Peter would give the kids the metal detector and let them go hunting for treasure. All money and treasures they found, would be used later at the arcade located right beside the café. The kids would play arcades, while Peter and Dianne listened to the many stories of Dick, his mom and how he came to Grand Marias.

 

Always the treasure hunter, Dad loved garage sailing and thrift shopping any chance he got. He described thrift shopping similar to metal detecting and always excited him to find more treasures within a garage sale, thrift store, auction place or Kijiji. It was not uncommon for Dad to have numerous alerts on his phone informing him of new items that were listed within this app. He would describe the wonderful people whom he met this way who shared their story with them of why they wanted or needed to sell an item.

 

As the kids grew, golf became Peter’s next hobby. He and Dianne became members the Wildwood Golf Course and you would see him out on the course every chance he got.  Each summer was spent on golfing trips throughout Manitoba, golfing at every little course, meeting people along the way and making memories.

 

Peter and Dianne eventually separated, but remained good friends for the remaining of Peter’s life.

 

Peter moved to the Southglen Mobile Home Park. Here he met so many great friends and neighbours. Wayne & Tilley and their dog Elsa, always willing to lend a hand, Carol who made some great meals bringing Peter some of her treats for him to sample, Ivan and Mina, Ken, Frank & Liz, Nannette, just to name a few.

 

Newly retired and known for a person that couldn’t sit still too long, Peter found a new hobby with motorcycles. At one time Dad owned 11 motorcycles- some brand new and some vintage. He loved to drive his bikes over to Angela and Darryll’s house (who lived close by) and impress their young children with each new shiny bike he purchased.

 

Again, because we all know that music was always in Peter’s heart, he also started collecting many guitars and loved playing. He often played with Curtis and those two formed such a special bond and communication through playing guitar. It was not uncommon to see the two of them jamming out to their favourite 60s songs and having Angela be lead singer during some sort of holiday event. We often joke that Dad always wanted his family to be the next Partridge Family.

 

One day, while playing guitar alone in his house, Peter decided to place an ad in Kijiji to look for a person to play guitar and jam with. He met Richard Doyle through this process and yet another friendship was formed when he joined the Disraeli Gears. Dad felt like a rock star, this time playing the keyboard with this band. He would share stories with whomever would listen about the amazing social crowd and excited fans who watched them play.

 

Sadly, shortly after his 65th birthday (November 2016), Peter was diagnosed with colon cancer. Despite this diagnosis and numerous treatments, he tried to remain positive. He continued on life as normal, playing guitar, shop for treasures and host gatherings at his house. 

 

Peter met Marlene Toews through mutual friends and in 2019 she moved in with him. Together they welcomed friends, family and enjoyed having BBQs and hosting crib games. One of the greatest times Peter had was this past September, flying off to Niagara Falls for what would become, his last adventure. He loved sharing the pictures and excitement and he felt the trip was worth it as he came back home rejuvenated.

 

In November 2020, Dad was given the news that his cancer had spread. Despite the amount of treatments and medical interventions, it was not enough to stop the cancer from spreading.

 

During his last week of his life, he managed to spend two great days at home with his family, playing the guitar with his kids, laughing with the grandkids, singing and enjoying the few hours of comfort. His very last day was listening to the best 60s music and playing air guitar. Music to the very end.

 

 

He passed very peacefully in the early morning of February 24, 2021 with Marlene and Dianne by his side at Riverview Health Centre.

 

Big thank you and words can’t even describe the comfort and support from family and friends during this time.

 

Thank you to the Oncology doctors and staff at Victoria Hospital; Peter felt like part of the Cancer Care family.

 

Thank you to the two paramedics (Amanda Debreuil and Cheryl Heuchert) who were dispatched and helped advocate to bring Dad to Riverview Health Centre. Thank you to Tache Pharmacy who helped so much delivering us Dad’s medication in a timely manner and would take our many phone calls after hours. Also, a big thank you to the palliative team at Riverview Health Centre. The care and support was amazing and we appreciate everything you did to help keep Peter comfortable during his last few days on this earth and to ease the family’s pain.

 

Peter always ended each of his emails with Life is short. Enjoy the ride!

 

Peter/ Dad/ Grandpa, we love you so much and we have no doubt you are riding onto your next great adventure and making friends along the way.

 

Due to COVID-19 and as per Peter’s wishes there will be no service at this time. A Come and Go in Celebration of Life, will be arranged at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Terry Fox Foundation or any charity of your choice.