Tributes paid to Bert Proft

Tributes poured in last week for Bert Proft, one of Barrhead’s longest serving Town councillors, who has died at the age of 75.

Proft served as a councillor for 22 years, was an Elks member for 40 years and a prominent businessman in Barrhead, operating Bert’s TV.

His wife of 49 years, Edie, remembered a good man, who spent a rich, happy and fulfilling life, a family man with a love for flowers, gardening and animals.

His affection for animals even extended to having a pet skunk for two years shortly after they were married.

“Bert always danced to his own drums,” she said. “Of course I am sad, but I have so many wonderful memories.”

Daughter Barb Flett and son David Proft spoke of a father with a strong work ethic and a passion for politics. So passionate, in fact, that he used to hold informal meetings with friends at his store, to put the world to rights.

The Thursday night tradition became known as the “Senators’ Club,” where talk and drink made for intense and fascinating discussions.

“My father also made the best raspberry wine, always using used liquor bottles,” Barb smiled. “He cooked the best steaks as well – he was all about feeding people.”

Barrhead Mayor Brian Schulz described Proft as a very honest, forthcoming man who was always careful about how the Town spent taxpayer dollars.

“He brought to the council a business perspective and I admired and respected him for that,” he said.

MP for Westlock-St. Paul, Brian Storseth, who served with Proft on Town council, said he would miss a long-time friend and mentor.

“Bert always had the best interest of our community at heart, and a unique ability to act as a passionate voice of the community,” he said. See Letters to the Editor.

Eighty-one-year-old Emil Smecko, whose family sponsored Proft to come to Canada when he was a boy, said he had no words to express his sorrow.

“Bert was my first cousin and I’ve known him since he was 12,” he said last Thursday. “He was a good man, and a very bright man. He was also very popular in the community.”

Proft, who had faced health challenges for a number of years, died in the early hours of Wednesday while visiting Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park. His funeral will take place on Friday at St. Anne’s Catholic Church.

Born in 1937 in Germany, Proft came to Canada in 1950. The circumstances of his family’s emigration are unclear, although son, David, heard they escaped through East Germany.

Proft went to school in Barrhead, and as a child showed a mental sharpness that would become so evident during his years as a businessman and councillor.

“He studied until Grade 10, which in those days was a long time,” said Smecko. “After that he did construction work in Edmonton.”

Between 1956 and 1964 Proft worked as an underground surveyor in a North Saskatchewan uranium mine.

“I also worked at the mine,” said Smecko. “In the year Bert left he got married to Edie, lived in a trailer and then bought a farm and farmed for a short while.”

Smecko said Proft sold the farm to his brother and became an electrician, and began running Bert’s TV in 1967. With a natural aptitude for electrical items, Proft had enrolled in a course for television.

Such was his talent, he was able to build a television from pieces sent to him through mail order.

“He seemed to be able to fix anything,” said Smecko. “He could take a radio apart and put it back together again.”

Meanwhile, Proft and Edie, a nursing aide, were raising four children, two boys and two girls.

Proft, an avid member of the Legion, had also joined the Elks Club, holding all the positions, including Exalted Ruler.

In 2004, Proft contested the Mayoralty with Schulz and Lee Hibert.

A Town councillor for 21 years who had already worked with five mayors, Proft campaigned on the strength of municipal government experience.

His priorities were: promoting the town for new business and industry; accountability; and revamping social housing.

He said Barrhead needed more social housing units and money had to be put back into seniors’ pockets since they were the Town’s biggest industry.

Responsible allocation of money for roads, streets and water was another priority.

He saw his business acumen and ability to read financial statements as an asset.

Proft, who won Alberta Urban Municipalities Association award for distinguished service in 2004, received 497 votes, coming second to Schulz.

After the election, Proft continued running his store until he sold it four or five years ago. It is still in operation.

Schulz remembered Proft as an advocate for keeping a tight rein on public spending.

He said he had had many stimulating discussions with Proft in the council chamber. Sometimes there were disagreements, but never any animosity.

“We became very good friends,” he said. “Barrhead has lost a good man and my condolences go out to his wife Edie and family.”