Rifleman Alan Charles Bunt was born on 6 September 1937, in Coldwater Ontario, the son of Harold and Jennie Bunt. He had older brothers Doug, John, twins Glen and Katherine, younger brother Lloyd and his beloved dog, Zak.

He is survived by his son Brad (Kristi), daughter Shauna, granddaughters Emilie, Katie (Will) and Jenni (Jesse) and great-grandchildren Grayson, Charlie, and Alex. Al was a loving uncle to Delanne, Darren, Gordon, Joanne, and Daphne and a proud “gruncle” to Keaton and Kyler.

Al grew up in Coldwater and Orillia Ontario, playing hockey and tagging along with his older brothers Doug and John, who Al idolized. Once old enough, Al joined the military and became a rifleman in the Queen’s Own Rifles where he participated in training missions around the world. In 1957 he was selected to participate in a highly classified mission called Operation Plumbbob, which was the detonation of atomic bombs in the Nevada desert. Of the 40 Canadian members sent down to Nevada to participate in the testing, Al was the last survivor. Global National aired a documentary about Dad’s service in 2008, called Time Bombs.

After Al was discharged from the service he moved to Thompson Manitoba, but while spending time in Winnipeg, met his future wife, Sylvia. They married in 1963, and their son Brad was born in February 1965. They remained in Thompson until May of 1965 when they moved to BC.

After a brief stint in Ashcroft, BC the young family moved to Port Alberni where Al began working as a millwright at the Pulp & Paper Mill.

A few years after arriving in Port Alberni, daughter Shauna was born.

Al loved to hunt and for over 40 years spent Septembers annually at the ranch on Pink Mountain in northern BC, a place he deeply loved. He enjoyed fishing down the canal, watching sports and quad rides with his buddies. Al coached his kids in lacrosse, hockey, and softball when they were young, instilling a lifelong passion for sports in both of his children.

After a lengthy career at the Pulp Mill and taking early retirement at 55, Al and Sylvia were able to spend many winters in Phoenix and their summers at their cabin at Horne Lake. Al loved a cold beer, his dog Zak, and a good BS session. He was also well known for being an epic storyteller.

He passed away on 15 January 2025, in Port Alberni British Columbia.