William Kerr

It is with deep sadness that the family announce the sudden passing of William “Bill” Charles Kerr on Sunday, January 9th, 2022, at 86 years old.

Bill was born on December 20th, 1935 to William (Bill) and Gilberte (Bertha) Kerr and spent his life in Kenora ON. Bill was the eldest of siblings Donald, Roberta, David, Vivian, Roderick and Robbin. His first memories were of growing up in a fur trapper’s cabin near Vermillion Bay then moving to Pine Portage Road as a child. As a boy, Bill loved the outdoors—jumping off cliffs at Laurenson Lake in summer, skating the length of the lake and the creek in winter. He attended Mount Carmel Elementary and Kenora Keewatin District High School. He was an altar boy at the Notre Dame Catholic Church and served as a Cadet.

As a big brother, Bill was someone his siblings looked up to—he was the wiser and more stern brother—and he was always a prankster! There are many stories of his causing a ruckus, but all in the name of good fun! He was a great dancer—rhumba, tango and jive were how he and his sister tore up the dance floor at the Young People’s dances on Sunday nights. He took great delight in scaring his brothers and sisters—jumping out of hiding places to startle them and tormenting them while they listened to mystery stories around the radio. He was full of practical jokes—a talent that he maintained his entire life! His many nieces and nephews and several neighbourhood kids can attest to that!

He met Audrey Kerkowich—a new school teacher from Manitoba—in Kenora and they married in 1963 in Neepawa MB. During their 37-year adventure together, they focused on their careers and spent leisure time with family and friends. They golfed, bowled and raised several wonderful dogs together. Bill had a passion for fishing on Lake of the Woods—and he’s passed on his secret fishing spots to the next generation. Bill loved cottage life and their camp on Treaty Island.

As a young man, Bill worked for some Winnipeg cottage owners on Lake of the Woods. In his early 20’s, he moved to Winnipeg and worked for a brief time with Great West Life Insurance before deciding city life wasn’t for him. He spent some time in the family business of Kerr & Sons with Husky Oil before joining the Ontario Ministry of Transport (Department of Highways) driving trucks and providing truck driver training. His skills as a trucker were noteworthy—he was the Truck Roadeo Champ of North Western Ontario and won the Canadian National championship title—returning it to Kenora after a 40-year absence. Bill then joined the Kenora Jail until his retirement.

Bill lost Audrey, suddenly, at Christmas 2000. But he was blessed to find Pauline Harris—who had lost Harry that same December. They were introduced during a round of golf and Pauline says she fell in love immediately with Bill’s good humour and sense of fun while he fell in love with her easy-going and attentive nature. They were married August 2004. Bill and Pauline played golfed, spent time with family, took a cruise to Alaska and travelled to the East Coast. They complemented each other well.

In retirement, Bill made the breakfast rounds with his retired friends—giving the waitresses a hard time, zinging one-liners to friends, and providing nicknames to anyone who crossed his path. Wherever Bill went, there was laughter. Like many of the Kerr’s, he was no wallflower! One of his practical jokes involved dressing like a scarecrow and sitting perfectly still on his deck at Halloween. He’d wait motionless until the tots, unaware, would climb those front steps—where he’d either slowly turn his head or suddenly jump off his chair and scare them. He’d be in tears recounting how those youngsters flew off the deck, screaming down the sidewalk—often without their candy.

Bill could show a tender loving side—whether putting a comforting hand on a child’s shoulder, sharing stories of the family hardships, or sentimentally holding onto and passing down Bertha’s cast iron bean pot. Bill could be the calm in the Kerr storm.

Beside his loving wife Pauline, Bill is survived by his brothers Don and Robbin (Linda), sister Roberta, brother-in-laws Aime (Linda), Robert (Wendy) and Roger and sister-in-law Bonnie. Also survived by Pauline’s children Michelle (Eugene) and Lynn (Robert), and grandchildren (Olivia, Christian, Benjamin and Mitchell). Great-grandson Nathaniel holds a special place in Bill’s heart. Bill’s nieces and nephews who grew up with him will miss him very much: Donald Jr, Roberta and Amanda, Diane and Shelley, Leanne, Lori and Stacy, Bradley, Krissy and Bill Jr. with whom he was especially close, and the many nieces and nephews in the Kerkowich/Jakubowski family and Harris family and many lifelong friends.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, Bertha and Bill Kerr, his wife Audrey, young brother Roddy, sister Vivy, brother David sisters-in-law Margie and Val, brothers in-law Lyle and George, and step-son Bruce.

There will be a funeral service at Notre Dame Catholic Church (222 First St N., Kenora, ON) on Tuesday, January 18th, 2022, at 11:00 am, by invitation only due to Covid protocols. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in honour of Bill to “A Dog’s Life” or the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com for the Kerr family.