As the result of a drowning accident on Friday, July 3, 1987, Bruce John McKenna, in his 50th year. Beloved husband of Edythe and dear father of Virginia and Cathie. Loving grandfather of Krystle and Eirlynn. Dear brother of Thomas and Melvin, Betty, Vern and Helen. Bruce was a Firefighter for 25 years with the Hamilton Fire Department. Funeral Tuesday morning at 10:30 from the DWYER FUNERAL HOME, 16 Cannon Street East, to Sts. Peter and Paul church for Mass of Christian Burial at 11 o'clock. Cremation to follow. Recitation of the Rosary Monday afternoon at 4 pm. Visiting Monday, 2-4 and 7-9 pm.

A VETERAN Hamilton firefighter has drowned near the cottages he used as an escape during more than a quarter-century on the job. Bruce John McKenna, 50, who drowned after his boat capsized on Lake Bernard Friday, escaped to a northern sanctuary of his own making almost every chance he got, say friends and relatives.The intensely quiet man, who grew up in the York and Dundurn streets area, put in more than 25 year with the Hamilton Fire Department and put in almost as much time at his five cottages in Sunridge on Lake Bernard.Mr. McKenna died while trying to swim ashore after his boat overturned.Seven years ago he had suffered smoke damage to his lungs and never fully recovered, said his wife Edythe. The fire department is a young man's job," he would say. He said he didn't think he wanted to keep working. He wouldn't want to risk anybody else's life. He said "I'll want to leave while I'm doing a good jobMr. McKenna had been on sick leave from the fire department since November. A big man at 90 kilograms (200 pounds), Mr. McKenna had lost more than 23 kilograms (50 pounds) in the few months prededing his death, said Mrs. McKenna. He loved children, especially his daughters Krystle and Eirlynn, said Mrs. McKenna, who met her husband at his cottage resort.Just before they were married, Mr. McKenna sold his convertible car to put a downpayment on the cottages as an investment.Ironically, the veteran firefighter lost one of his cottages in a fire a few years ago, something he never quite got over, said Mrs. McKenna.Don Alford, a fellow firefighter who grew up with Mr. McKenna since the two were 13 and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Mr. McKenna, said he continually put in a full day's work and always did what was expected of him. He'd been through it all. He was a quiet guy with a good sense of humor," he said.

Resource: Hamilton Spectator