Wayne Barsby

The family of Wayne Barsby, beloved husband of Shirley Barsby of the Sturgis,District, announce his passing on October 15, 2018 at the age of 60 years.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, October 22 at 10:30am from the Sturgis Community Hall with Betty-Lou Skogen officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sturgis Fire Department as gifts of remembrance.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

Wayne John Christopher Barsby was born on the 4th of July 1958 in the small village of Exning in Suffolk, England to his parents Penelope and Derek Barsby.  Born into a farming family Wayne was often helping his father on the farm and working with his grandfather on his vegetable garden.

      Wayne loved playing cricket for his local team in Exning.  He enjoyed playing cards and going to soccer matches following his favourite team Ipswich Town Football Club.   He continued watching soccer on TV here on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

      He went to the Convent of St Louis in neighbouring town Newmarket followed by the Grammar School.  He attended Loughborough College for his degree in Agriculture and not many years later he participated in a farm exchange programme in Provost, Alberta, Canada, as an exchange student.  It was this experience that sowed the seed for his desire to farm in Canada.

     On 3rd March 2003 his dream came true when he emigrated to Canada with his family, settled in Sturgis and started a new life.

     He quickly adapted to the new lifestyle, made numerous friends, enjoyed coffee row with the farming community.  He was a Councillor for the RM of Clayton and was associated with several groups including the Co-op Board, Parkland and Regional Waste Board,  E.C.R.F. the Sturgis and District Mutual Aid group, the R.C.M.P Community Group and the Sturgis and District rural fire co-operative.

     Family always came first.   He and his wife Shirley were inseparable and shared the same sense of humour.  He made time for family vacations and travelling with friends.   He leaves behind the love of his life, his wife Shirley, and sons Matthew and Alexander and daughter-in-law Kaylyn.  They had all recently celebrated Alexander and Kaylyn’s wedding.  In England he leaves behind his father Derek Barsby and his sister Karen in America.  His mother predeceased him in 2016.

     Farming was his passion.   He lived his dream.