Russell Maxwell Clunie

Russell Maxwell Clunie is better known as Max to us all. Max was born on October 28, 1995, and left this earth on June 30, 2011 at fifteen years of age, but he was doing what Max did best and that was living life. Max was born in Prince Albert at the Victoria Hospital, to Sharon and Russell Clunie and his precious big sisters Alyson and Meghan. A special part of Max’s short life was his ongoing love and support from the extended Clunie and Broda families. His school years began at the Wee Care Preschool moving onto Vickers (K-8) and grade 9 at Carlton Comprehensive High School. Max had a love for life that was obvious to everyone and he easily touched all who knew him. He had an old soul in a fifteen year old body and had done as much in his short life as some grown men do in their lifetime. He loved sports and started his hockey and baseball careers at the age of four, playing for teams in West Hill, Crescent Heights, and Crescent Acres as well as city wide baseball teams. Many friends were made through this process. All his fellow players, opponents, and their parents knew that if ‘Mad Max’ was playing then things were going to happen! Four years ago, he carried this tenacity onto the football field when he started with the Prince Albert River Riders. Max was a true leader in sports and in life. This was evident right through from his place on his sports teams to his diligence in helping the underdogs in school to the mentoring of the young Cooper kids. It was who he was to the core. His tough driven exterior was matched by his disguised compassionate heart. This was exemplified by his receipt of the humanitarian award at his Grade 8 graduation. Max so loved his big sisters Alyson and Meghan. He spent endless hours in sports grounds watching and cheering for them as they pursued their life with their horses. He developed a love for the sport of Rodeo and through the help and guidance of his dear friends the Kulczycki boys, Todd, Jesse, Kris and Scott he learned how to ride and rope, showing his dad up numerous times. His special friend, Rod Froc, helped Max acquire his hunter safety license and shoot his first deer and bear. Danny Mantyka and Wade Cooper also shared Max’s love for the outdoors and Max spend countless hours with Danny shooting gophers, checking traps and patrolling the Broda and Clunie acres-keeping them pest free. Max spent many Saturday mornings in Wade’s old blue truck listening to “The Cars” and Wade’s “words of wisdom”. He will be dearly missed by all that knew him and by all those who love him; especially his proud mom, dad and sisters. Max’s passion for football will be reflected in his family’s pursuit to establish lights at Prime Ministers Park and Harry Jerome Track. He leaves to mourn his mom and dad, Rusty and Sharon Clunie’; big sisters Alyson (Ryan Cullum) and Meghan (Tanner Bryne); his dog ‘Willie’ and horse ‘Larry’’ his grandfather Russ Clunie Sr; grandma Anne Clunie and nana Lynne Howard; uncle Jay (Colleen) Clunie’ cousins Peter and Ross LeMessurier and Jake Clunie; auntie Janice (Kelly) Autet; cousin Sara Autet and baby Lucy (daughter of Sara and Danny Mantyka) as well as cousin Tom Autet and great grandma Margaret Nichols. He was predeceased by his grandpa Glen Howard. Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 in the Ches Leach Lounge at The Art Hauser Center, 690 – 32nd Street East, Prince Albert, SK with Reverend Dr. R.M.A. Sandy Scott officiating. Interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of other tributes, donations in memory of Max can be made to Friday Night Lights Fund, c/o Broda Group, Bag 5800, 4271 – 5th Avenue East, Prince Albert, SK S6V 8A4. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray's Funeral Chapel, Lorne Adams, Funeral Director.