Obituary of William Shuckburgh Kirtley

William Shuckburgh Kirtley

sunrise July 30th 1933   sunset October 10th 2025

William Shuckburgh Kirtley aka Bill, was born July 30th, 1933, in Stettler, Alberta, to parents Gwendolyn and William Kirtley.  Bill was the first grandchild of Dorothy and William Shuckburgh with seven Aunts and Uncles on this side of the family and four older Aunts and Uncles on the Kirtley side.

When Bill was 10 years old (1943), his father passed away.  Several years later, Gwendolyn remarried Emil Eichhorn and thus had half-siblings from this union: Stan, Gwendolyn, and Evelyn.

After Bill's father passed, family stepped in with very protective hearts.  This act of family love created a tremendously strong bond that has kept this family ​and the generations ​since very close.

Bill attended the Vermilion School of Agriculture in 1952, completing the Agriculture 2 in 1 program.

During the high school years, Bill became close friends with Vic Stuckey.  Vic took a fancy to a gal named Joyce Ziegler, and by the time these two married, Bill had taken a shine to Joyce’s younger sister, Lillian Ziegler.

Bill and Lillian were married on March 21st, 1959 and welcomed their first child, William aka Bill the following year, then Lana, Monica, and Trevor.

Bill enjoyed being involved in the activities and interests of their children, including snowmobiling, slow pitch baseball, curling and many years of beef and horse 4-H.  He wasn’t much of an “ace on skates,” he did enjoy cheering on their hockey and ringette games.

Bill became one of the first Alberta-certified AI (artificial insemination) technicians.  He went on to train several individuals, and more than once​ it was joked that he, or the team of local technicians, were responsible for “fathering” more calves than some of the local herd bulls.

Bill and Lillian's Echo Hills Ranch collaborated with other ranches to import the first Simmental cattle from Switzerland into western Canada.  Their bred heifer did not produce 10 calf crops as they had hoped for but she started a strong line of full-blood Simmentals that became the heart of their herd.

Bill was involved on the County Council for seven years, three years as acting Reeve/Mayor. As well, he was actively involved in the Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge organizations, Cowboy Church, the P&H Elevator, and the Stettler Town & Country Museum.

Bill loved spending time with so many family and friends.  Adventures​ of trail riding and packing in the mountains.  Horse pulls, wagon treks, Percheron horses, donkeys and mules.  He loved these adventures and the people he shared many a chuckle with.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, stepfather, and his two sisters, his ​aunts, ​uncles and many friends, including a primary accomplice, best friend Vic Stuckey. 

Bill is survived by his loving family, wife of 66 years, Lillian of Stettler; children: Bill (Verna) Kirtley of Stettler, Lana Kirtley of Edson, Monica (Dean) Wark of Rycroft, Trevor (Shelley Reber) Kirtley of Big Valley; grandchildren: Chad  Kirtley, Colton Kirtley, Dillon Kirtley, Tianna Kirtley (Holden Perry), Wyatt Felske, Liam Wark, Claire Wark; with the addition of Shelley to the family, they were blessed with granddaughter Casey Butters and great granddaughter Sadie Butters; half brother Stan Eichhorn (Sharon Adamson); the extended Shuckburgh and Kirtley families; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and their families and many dear friends and neighbours, all who brought joy to his long life.

Celebration Of Bill’s Life

Friday, October 24, 2025 at 2:00 P.M.

Stettler Funeral Home, Stettler, Alberta

Donations in memory of Bill are gratefully accepted to the Stettler Town & Country Museum, St. George’s Anglican Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Bill's family would like to thank the numerous doctors, home care and nursing staff who cared for him and helped him maintain some amount of dignity, especially Verna Kirtley. We, the family, are forever grateful for their patience, compassion and touch of humour.