Bruno Tarabula

We sadly announce that Bruno Tarabula passed away on June 13, 2026 in Calgary, AB.

Bruno was born in Bellevue, AB on September 14, 1928 and lived in Blairmore until 1940. At the age of 12, Bruno’s family moved to Calgary where he completed his schooling and graduated from Henderson Business College with an accounting diploma. Soon after, he married Eleanor Kjorsvick and started a family having two sons, Ken and Terry.

Bruno started his career with Imperial Oil in 1950 which took him from Calgary to Lethbridge, AB. A couple of years later, he moved back to Calgary when he was offered an accounting position with Ashdowns Hardware and where he soon moved up to become General Manager. Then in 1963, Bruno moved to Edmonton with Radio Station CJCA, and then back to Calgary with CFAC in 1967. Shortly thereafter, he joined Universal Ford Lincoln and held various positions in his 50+ years of service there. During this time, he met and married his second wife, Lorraine Weatherhead, and spent the next 25 years with her until her passing in 2019. Bruno retired from Universal later that year at the age of 90 years.

Bruno was involved in several affiliations at the city level, as well as an active competitor, and volunteer within his communities.  He coached his two sons in baseball and hockey, winning the City title one year. As a founding member of the Calgary Curling Club, he competed in league play and provincial competitions. In 1969, he joined the Elks Golf Club and was President of the Benevolent Order of Elks Lodge #4 for multiple years. He made many friends there, particularly with the notorious "Dirty Dozen" group; many of them joining him in Palm Springs, CA for their winter vacations.

Bruno leaves behind his two sons, Ken and Terry (Joanne), five grandchildren: Tyler (Nicole) and Trent Tarabula, Kimberly Tremblay (Mathieu), Scott Tarabula (Melissa), and Carly Merkosky (Aaron). He also had six great-grandchildren: Mireille and Jeremy Tremblay, Benjamin and Violet Merkosky, Taylor Tarabula, and Jackson Tarabula.

A private family memorial will be held for Bruno at a later date.

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