Born September 12, 1929

Springside, Saskatchewan

 

Passes Away January 15, 2020

Lumby, British Columbia

 

Wilf was born near Yorkton, Saskatchewan in his aunt’s small farmhouse on September 12, 1929, just weeks before the major stock market crash in October and the crippling drought that overtook the prairies. Times were tough! He was the youngest of three children raised by Martha and John Hemrick.

 

Health wise, his father was not a well man and was unable to keep up with the workload or tend the land. Wilf was his mother’s helper and the option was not available for consistent schooling. At the age of 14, he became ill with tuberculosis and ended up in a sanatorium hospital in Fort Qu’Appelle for almost a year alongside many war veterans. When he recovered, the war was over. He started working at Martin’s bakery in Yorkton at nights baking bread & buns to help out the family. Later he worked for Bird’s Construction, building wartime houses and then Logan Steven’s Construction, working in the shop. Through a close friend, he eventually found a job at the Imperial Optical Company in Yorkton in 1952 at 23 years of age.

 

In 1953 while attending a house party, he met his life partner Isabelle Rowell who at the time was a bank teller. On December 24, 1953 Wilf proposed to Isabelle and they married on June 19, 1954 in Yorkton. They purchased from Wilf’s parents, a small old house where they gradually completed many renovations.

 

After their 3 children were born, more space was needed which resulted with a move into a larger Yorkton home. In 1966 they agreed it was time to leave Yorkton for new adventures, so they loaded up their 1953 navy-blue Chevy and the family journeyed to Edmonton where Wilf continued to work as an optician for 28 more years retiring from Clear Vision Optical in 1994.

 

In 2009 after being married for 55 years, Isabelle passed away peacefully in St. Albert, Alberta.  In 2010 Wilf married Doris Szmata and for five years they together enjoyed traveling, visiting with family and neighbours and admiring the beauty of nature until 2015, when Doris passed away with her family at her side in St. Albert, Alberta.

 

Wilf enjoyed many sports. In his younger years he played baseball and answered to the nickname “Little Buck”. In 1959, he played first base and sometimes shortstop in the Western Canada Baseball League on the Yorkton Red Sox, alongside Clare Drake. Hockey was also a passion of his, watching, coaching and playing for many years. He prided himself in archery practice and bowling in leagues in both Yorkton and Edmonton, his best game being a 410. Wilf also golfed for most of his life and he accomplished a hole-in-one in our family tournament one summer, which Wilf never tired talking about.

 

He loved the mountains, hiking, X-country skiing, hunting and fishing with the family. We will never forget the story of one particular fishing trip, near Jasper when Wilf and a buddy spotted “Bigfoot” on the side of a hill! Wilf also took pride in their yards and enjoyed puttering with gardens and landscaping. On a lazy day you could often find Wilf lounging in the hammock listening to birds or practicing on his backyard putting green.

 

Family camping trips were a priority in our family. Many vacations brought us to the Okanagan valley in British Columbia. We always remember camping in the VW van or tent trailer; the incredible hot summer weather and the beaches. Wilf highly valued family vacations and spending quality time together. Even when finances did not allow it, a bank loan made the vacation happen.

 

Wilf passed away peacefully in his sleep during the morning of January 15, 2020 at Monashee Mews care community in Lumby, B.C. Wilf leaves behind his sons Wayne (Karen) Hemrick, Dale (Darlene) Hemrick and daughter Lori (Paul) Ross. Grand-children Kristen (Trent) Gielen, Sarah (David) Rees, Hanna (Matt) Franko, Carl (Elysia Raimondo) Ross, Lucas Ross and great grandson Ellis Gielen. He is predeceased by his first wife Isabelle in 2009; second wife Doris (Szmata) in 2015, his sister Rosene in 2008 and his stepbrother Edwin in 2009.

 

The family will be gathering in early summer for interment at the St. Michael’s Cemetery and to celebrate his life.