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WALZ, Alfred William

Born: January 15, 1930 at Marysburg, Sask.

Passed: December 3, 2009 at Stanford Place, Parksville, BC

It is with great sadness that the Walz family announces the passing of their beloved husband and father, Alfred William Walz. He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Walz and his five children: Rick Walz (Teena), Barb Walz (Ron Panton), Brenda Vaughan (Gord), Randy Walz (April) and Greg Walz (Nada).

Also, grandchildren: Tanis, Jeremy, Bill, Ginny, Stuart, Brittany, Kevin, Sean and great-grandchildren: Mya, Elizabeth and Victoria.

He had numerous nieces, nephews and their families who all have their own “Uncle Alf ” stories to tell.

Alf leaves four brothers and three sisters to mourn: Quirin (Kay), Coquitlam; Bernard (Em), Calgary; Edward (Phyllis) Surrey; Kenneth (Lynn), Victoria; Martha Otterson, Qualicum Beach; Verna Brogden, Pitt Meadows; Alice (Bob) Little, Port Alberni. And many dear friends. He was predeceased by sisters, Rose Galinski and Margaret Kreke and by brothers, Wilfred and Isadore.

A true Renaissance man, he was raised on a Saskatchewan farm until the age of fifteen when he came to Port Alberni with his family. His mechanical aptitude later landed him a job with Chatwin Motors. This led to opening his own Esso gas station and autobody shop. He was active in baseball and hockey and attended the Catholic Youth Organization dances. He met and married Marg, and started a family before medical concerns with one of his children prompted a move to the fresh air of Qualicum.

He initially worked at the local Shell station at the foot of Memorial Ave. as a mechanic and bodyman. He was persuaded to buy land and put down roots. After purchasing 24 acres of raw land on a lonely dirt road (Garrett Road) he pushed a new road through to build a home on the cliff. In later years, he created the Belyea Rd. subdivision.

He decided to start a boat rental and charter boat business,”The Nomads”, in a huge old barn-like building that had once been used for roller skating “dances”. It ran for years as a family business in the days of plentiful salmon. The Sand Pebbles stands on the site today. An ingenious amphibious vehicle of Alf’s creation, called ”The Camel,” shuttled fisherman out to their boats at low tide.

He retired to develop his subdivision and putter with his sawmill and machinery. He helped his children build houses in the area and travelled in the south, hunted birds in Alberta with Marg and the crew and spent time at their friends’ lodge at Kildonan on the Alberni Canal.

Alf rejoiced in his grandchildren. He took them for greasy rides on his bulldozer and backhoe and packed them along to the airport. He was a member of the PQ Aero Club and had helped to build the airstrip. His was the first hangar on the site. He bought a Stinson plane when the kids were small, aviation having been a lifelong passion. He flew it home from Chicago and he loved taking the kids and the local parish priest up for sightseeing flights.

He was an active member of the Rotary Club and donated the old Catholic church organ to the Historical Society for the local museum. He and Marg were charter members of the Qualicum Curling Club and loved going to bonspiels. He came out of retirement to help his son-in-law with his horse logging business.

He spent many summers fishing, prawning and crabbing at China Creek in his later years. He enjoyed mushroom picking and gold panning on the Island. He also was a member of the PGOSA hockey team.

A service will be held at Yates Funeral Chapel, 1000 Allsbrook Road, Parksville on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 11:30 am, Rev. Jozef Kobos officiating, followed by a celebration of Alf’s life. There will be an open forum, so please feel free to bring your funny memories and stories of your adventures with Alf. He always tried to lighten memorial services with his anecdotes and it would be so healing to share a good laugh or two.

The family would like to especially thank the staff at NRGH and Stanford Place for the kindness and care given to Alf during his stay with them. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stanford Place Care Facility, 250 Craig Street, Parksville V9P 0A7, for the purchase of residential care equipment needs in Alf’s name.

“Sadness is but a wall between two gardens”

- Kahlil Gibran



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