Walter Yacoboski
Wally Yacoboski, born in 1928 in the small town of Binscarth, Manitoba, passed away quietly at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
on the morning of September 5, 2014.
Wally was predeceased by both of his parents, his step- father, older brother (Stan), and his sister (Jean). He is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Betty, his four sons and wives – Wayne, Greg and Janet, Anton and Alana, Lance and Alice and their families, and his daughters, Judy Yacoboski and Vickie Wynans. He was also survived by nine grandchildren, fourteen great grand children, nephews and nieces and their families.
Wally left home in 1944 at the age of sixteen to work on grain elevator construction on the prairies and moved on from there to Port Alberni in 1947 where he worked as a logger for McMillan and Blodell and was well known as one of the best cat skinners around. He met his future wife and our mother Betty Lorraine Cooley that same year and he married her in July of 1949. He built their home, with help from Mom. After some years he started his own contracting company “Yacoboski Logging” of which he was the owner and operator. A number of years later he also purchased “Jordan and Biggs” trucking company and he ran these two companies until 1974. Mom & Dad then took a new direction if life when they moved to Parkville and opened a sporting goods store named “B & W Sports”. They bought a place in Qualicum Beach in 1979 where our mother still resides. They continued to run the store until 1983 and yet again our father reinvented himself by teaching himself how to weld and work with metal. He then made all kinds of items which he sold all over Vancouver Island to plant nurseries. He continued doing this work until shortly before he passed away.
Wally was a very hard worker and never complained. He was always ready to lend a helping hand. Wally always loved sports and played hockey as a boy in his hometown. As a man he sponsored the Bantam Rep Hockey team in Port Alberni, he was also involved in the sponsoring of the Port Alberni Timbermen hockey team (so named for Dads logging years). He was a sponsor of the Jordan & Biggs soccer team and was involved in a trip with the soccer team traveling and playing in both England and Holland that lasted for a few weeks. He donated many trophies during these years.
Both of our parents loved to curl and were involved in this sport in Port Alberni and again in Qualicum Beach where dad was the president at the Qualicum club. Both our mother and father loved to go dancing, traveling in their van, local car trips, looking at scenery. Dad was involved with the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch – 76) and volunteered many hours of his time for about 17 years. He did a lot of his volunteering with the LA group at this Legion branch.
He started to have serious health issues back in 2000 and he never complained about these times. He was a very strong person, a loving husband and father and family man. He loved to see his grandchildren and all other family members when ever they would drop by. He was so happy at their 65th wedding anniversary celebration as he had a chance to see all the relatives, spending time to chat and hang out with them.
“Wally, you will always be the love of my life”!!! from Betty
Dad, we will always have the warmest feeling and thoughts for you for the rest of our lives and it was our pleasure to have been able to be with you.
On October 25th at the Qualicum Civic Centre, between the hours of
2:30 PM until 5:00 PM we are inviting friends and relatives to join us in
sharing memories, and celebrating Wally’s life. Flowers are gratefully
declined. Donations to BC Children’s Hospital would be appreciated.
Thank you from the Yacoboski clan for all the kind thoughts, flowers, cards and support though this time!