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Walter Yakimyshyn

February 18, 2008

Yakimyshyn, Walter Peter

Born July 8, 1943-Died February 18, 2008


It is with great sadness that we tell you of the passing our husband, partner, and soul mate; father; youngest brother; uncle; and Gido (Grandpa).

Walter was curling on Monday, let go a rock, fell to the ice, and could not be revived.

Walter was predeceased by his loving parents, Joseph (1953) and Mary (1998) Yakimyshyn, his first wife Alleda, and a great-grandson Paul Thomas.

He leaves his wife, Amy Alma (Brydon) and family Marion Virtue (George and Thomas); Grant and Cathy Brydon (Alex and Marika); Ross Brydon and Victoria Jones; and Louise Brydon.

He leaves Alleda’s family, Linda and Mike Simper (Troy Sterritt and Tracy Sterritt); Tom and Jan Ford (Shawnarae and Rick, and Cory Ford).

He leaves his brothers, Bishop Severian Yakymyshyn; Mike and Annie Yakimyshyn (Linda Mattson, Sharon (Ian) Sanderson and families); and his sister Tillie and Edward Babych (Susan (Dave) Manchak, Wayne (Louise) Babych, David (Diane) Babych and families).

He leaves an extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews as well as friends from every aspect of his life.

Walter was born in Vegreville, Alberta and Ukrainian was his first language. He attended the Zaparosa country school and then the high school in Vegreville. He went north of Yellowknife to Discovery Mines where he worked in the kitchen, then meat cutting, and began and completed his electrical apprenticeship. He met Alleda, the town postal clerk, and they married. In 1968 they moved to Saskatoon and then to Calgary where Walter worked in Chinook Centre and then the Alberta Government Telephone. In 1980 they moved to Campbell River and lived in a home they built in the Mitlenatch area and then moved to South Alder Street. Walter was the electrician for the District of Campbell River and kept the traffic and streetlights lit, and any motor or machine working. Sadly, Alleda passed away in 1995.

In 1996 Walter met Amy, a Tsolum schoolteacher, at a dance. They moved to the neighbourhood of Mitlenatch, married in 1997, retired in 1999, and in 2005 moved to the Comox Valley.

Walter was a member of the Campbell River Curling Club, then the Comox Valley Curling Club and played in the seniors’ mixed league. He was a member of the Comox United Church. Walter was a hunter and each autumn he and friends went to the woods in the interior of BC for two weeks looking for moose. Walter participated in many other activities with Amy. He shared his creative building and fix-it talents with individuals and groups. One of his favourite stores was the Re-Store. He and Amy travelled to Europe in 2002; Ukraine in 2004 to the farming area his parents had left in the early 1920s; China in 2006 to see the country and visit friends of Amy; Czech Republic in July 2007 tagging along with the Cantiamo Choir; and to Mexico in December 2007 to relax.

In the short number of years he lived, he worked hard, reclaimed his history, danced and laughed, loved and was loved.

A Memorial Service "Celebration of Life" will be on Saturday, March 1 at Comox United Church, 250 Beach Ave., Comox, BC. At 1:00 pm there will be a Gathering Time to meet Walter's family before the service at 1:30 pm. After the service, there will be a sit-down light lunch just a short distance away at the Comox Recreation Centre, 1855 Noel Ave, Comox.

Please come to remember Walter and to share and listen to stories.

If you wish to make a donation to remember Walter, please choose your favourite charity.


“By your good works you shall be known.”



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