It is with profound sadness that the family announces the passing of Walter Bain Laing on Friday, Nov. 25, 2016 at Rainycrest Home for the Aged in Fort Frances, Ont.
He is survived by his wife, Irene; sons, Darryl and Grahame, daughter, Kerrilynn (Fraser Hamilton), and their mother, Elisabeth Laing; and stepchildren, Michael Salchert (Tammy) and Susan Badiuk (Pete).
Also surviving are grandchildren, Cordell, Camryn, and Leland Laing, Nicole and Danielle Salchert, and David and Casey Badiuk (Joshua Bye); great-grandson, Orion Bye; as well as his niece, Rosy Laing, and cousins in Northern Ireland, Australia, and California.
He was predeceased by his brother, Ken, Aunt Annie Girvan and her husband, Sammy, and in-laws, Frank and Katherine Buksak and Margaret and Lucien Lambert.
Walter was born in Ballynure, Northern Ireland on Sept. 25, 1932, where he spent his early years. He enlisted in the British Air Force when he was 19 and served in Egypt, Aden, and Cyprus.
He was greatly honoured while in the service to have been selected to be a guard for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and was a staunch royalist all of his life.
Following his service in the air force, Walter immigrated to Canada in 1956 and settled in Winnipeg, Man. He worked at Zolmark Industries for a number of years, where Leon and Cathy were like family to him.
Walter’s greatest gift was music and entertaining people. He was ready to break into a sing-song at any moment. He spent many years singing with the Irish Tavern Singers, entertaining at Folklarama in Winnipeg and in a variety of other locations in the city, as well as at Culturama in Fort Frances.
The group also performed at Expo 86 in Vancouver, the Merimachee Celtic Festival, and in Bermuda.
He also was a member of the Winnipeg Irish Club and spent many happy times there entertaining and celebrating Irish culture.
Walter was a kind and gentle man with a fabulous smile who made friends easily. He enjoyed the time he spent playing and singing with his grandchildren. Papa Wawa will be sorely missed.
In his final years, Walter found solace in listening to music and we are grateful for the iPod provided by the Alzheimer Society and to the many groups which entertained at Rainycrest.
A funeral mass will be held Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 209 Victoria Ave., in Fort Frances.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or to the Rainycrest Auxiliary c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
WALTER BAIN LAING
