BAKNES
Bue Enne
Bue died on July 10, 2008 in Victoria, surrounded by his loving family after suffering a stroke. Bue wa born in Esbjerg, Denmark on April 17th, 1952 and emigrated to Canada six years later with his family settling in Duncan, B.C. After various stops Bue raised a family with Linda in Comox, B.C.
Bue was predeceased by his father Helge Baknes in 1999 and is survived by ex wife Linda Ritchie, son Vaughn and daughter Dayne Baknes, mother Elaine Baknes, sister Birgitte (Ken O'Keefe) Baknes and brother Mark (Donna) Baknes, nephews and nieces, Shawn (Sue) O'Keefe, D'Arcy (Sean) Roy, Chloe, Steen and Keir Baknes, great nephews and nieces Graeme and Ian O'Keefe and Ella Roy lus many other relatives in Denmark.
Bue was a talented person who excelled at the things he tried. His first love was music. He began with the drums, but realizing the background implications of that instrument he gravitated to the classical guitar for awhile then eventually settled on the electric. Bue has a wonderful versatile voice that was unfortunately never heard enough in public, but his often satirical renditions filled the rooms of our family gatherings. He played his music until the end having turned his kitchen into a stage with his guitars, drums and mike all within ten feet of the kitchen sink.
Along with the talents were some vices. Bue earned his unofficial drivers license at age 14 when he and his buddy Wayne put two family cars into the ditch in a single night before confessing to mom and dad. In some perverse way Bue also looked at boats not so much as a means of travelling across the water but instead the fastest way to the bottom, which seems ironic given his Viking heritage and name.
Bue built furniture that followed the adage "form fits function" creating designs and mechanisms that were both brilliant and beautiful. He was an inventor and although none of his inventions ever hit the shelves he was designing and building creations including domestic concrete sinks before anyone else even contemplated them. It wasn't the production he was interested in, but the creation of ideas linked to functionality that kept him entertained.
Although some may fear being called one, Bue was an eccentric. His being different was not contrived; it was the way he was right from the beginning. Like his dad before him Bue was his own man, did his own thing and for his own reasons. His humor and eccentricity drove us all nuts pretty regularly, but he was the most uniquely funny person we will ever know. We hope and will strive to emerge from the pain of our loss to laugh again.
At times indifferent to them Bue managed to captivate kids Maybe they were drawn by his lack of inhibition and spontaneity but like kids can always sense there was warmth there and a common understanding. The positive gestures and affection could have been more frequent, but when they came they were real and to be savored.
Bue left with all of us wishing we knew him better. We are deeply saddened that Bue didn't live nearly long enough, but he left us with more than a lifetime worth of memories. He will never be forgotten.
A celebration of Bue's life will be held at 6781 Westcott Road, in Duncan on August 16, 2008 beginning at 1:00pm.