Walter Bain Laing

He is survived by his wife, Irene, his sons Darryl and Grahame, daughter Kerrilynn (Fraser Hamilton) and their mother Elisabeth Laing. Stepchildren Michael Salchert (Tammy) and Susan Badiuk (Pete).

Also surviving are grandchildren Cordell, Camryn and Leland Laing, Nicole and Danielle Salchert, David and Casey Badiuk (Joshua Bye) and 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 September 25, 1932 where he spent his early years. He enlisted in the British Air Force when he was nineteen 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. He worked at Zolmark Industries for a number of years. 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 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 he found solace in listening to music and we are grateful for the I-pod provided by the Alzheimer Society and to the many groups which entertained at Rainycrest.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, December 2 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 209 Victoria Avenue, Fort Frances, ON

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or to the Rainycrest Auxiliary in care of Green Funeral Home, 600 Reid Avenue, Box 427, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 3M8.

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.