Wilmer was born the sixth of nine children to Ben and Mary Sawatzky. He was born in Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan on December 21, 1937. When he was brought home from the hospital his three older sisters called him Buddy and he has been Bud ever since. At the age of five Bud lost his brother, Elmer who was just two years older than Bud. This loss has always been remembered. Bud attended the Whiteby, one room school, until he was 8 years old. In 1946 Bud’s family left Saskatchewan by train and settled in Abbotsford. He grew up on a mixed farm with his seven siblings. He attended the Huntingdon Elementary School, Airport Middle School, and Phillip Sheffield High School where he graduated in 1955.
While living on the farm Bud observed C.P. Air piston airplanes and dreamed of someday becoming a pilot. During that time in his life, Bud with his cousin, Henry Krahn watched the movie, “The Missing Christian” after which he accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour. As a teenager Bud was baptized.
In Bud’s last year of High School he met his wife to be, Sylvia. After Graduation, Bud went to Vancouver to work at B.A. Oil and went to night school at U.B.C. Working in a Service Station led to being an independent Service Station operator in several locations. It was during this time that Bud married his sweetheart, Sylvia in 1958. After two children were born (Mike and Paddi-Lou) Bud decided to pursue his dream of a flying career. It was at that time that their third child, Pamela was born. After three years Bud got his first flying job at Air West in Vancouver, B.C.
Two years later Bud joined Pacific Western Airlines out of Edmonton, Alberta as a first officer on a DC4 flying in the Arctic. The family moved to Edmonton and enjoyed the new friends there. With a promotion to fly a Boeing 707 out of Vancouver, moving back to Vancouver made the family very happy. After two years of flying internationally Bud was promoted to Captain of a Lougheed Electra flying into the Arctic. The family was moved to Edmonton permanently. Two years later, Bud was promoted to fly a Boeing 737 out of Edmonton. While living there, the family enjoyed going to Penticton, BC to camp and water ski for a month every summer; a very memorable time for all. They took several trips to Hawaii with the children and sometimes just Bud and Sylvia enjoyed those times too.
On February 14, 1978, while Bud was playing racquet ball, he suffered a heart attack. Unfortunately, Bud had to give up his flying career. The family moved back to Vancouver where Bud recuperated and took the position as a simulator instructor in Vancouver. It was at this time that Bud and Sylvia bought a cabin cruiser and enjoyed charter salmon fishing as well as boating with family and friends. After 18 months, he was promoted to Director of Aircraft Sales and Leasing. Bud had a successful career in this position worldwide. He was then loaned to Guiness Peat Aviation and acted as Vice President of Americas based in Stamford, Connecticut for one year after which he again pursued his former position with P.W.A. in Vancouver. In 1995 Bud retired from Canadian Airlines.
In 1998 Bud had open heart surgery, after recovery, he purchased a Motor Home and he and Sylvia began to travel to many southern destinations. Spending most of the time in Mesa, AZ for eleven winters where he played tennis and enjoyed good health and many new friends. Bud’s hobbies were gardening, tennis and travel. Bud and Sylvia went on many cruises and trips enjoying their travels together.
The family meant a lot to Bud; never missing a recital, ballgames and functions as these were joyful times for him. Children Mike (Joanne), Paddi-Lou (Allan Tieszen) and Pamela (Ken Cannon); grandchildren Paige, Kyle (Meagan), Tyler, Alanna, Esther (Taylor), Joshua (Rachel), Katelyn and Shaylene; great grandchildren River, Roger and Beth. Bud enjoyed being a friend, partner, husband and lover to his wife, Sylvia, of over 59 years.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Peace Portal Alliance Church, 15128 27B Avenue, Surrey, BC.
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