Wilkie Wanless
WANLESS , William Alexander Wilkie
September 28, 1917 - January 14, 2010
Wilkie passed away peacefully at the Beverly Center Lake Midnapore in Calgary, where he had lived with his wife Dorothy since November 2007. Dorothy visited, fussed over and cared for Wilkie every day. He is survived and loved by Dorothy, his wife of sixty-three years and their three sons, "the boys" Dale, Marty and Gary; daughter-in-law Nancy and grandchildren Leissa (Jamie), Cory, Ethan; great-granddaughters Madison and Samantha as well as many nieces and nephews. Wilkie was predeceased by his sister Helen. Wilkie loved people and was continually volunteering. His RAF-WWII experiences lead him to be active in the Air Crew Association of Southern Alberta, for which in 2009, he received an ACA (UK) Presidential Commendation. Wilkie was also a member of the RCAF Prisoner of War Association, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Aerospace Museum of Calgary. He was very proud of his contribution to the success of an International POW reunion held in Calgary in 1985. Wilkie was also a big supporter of historical restoration projects concerning WWII relics such as the Halifax Bomber. He valued his community and as a young family man was a Kinsmen in Edmonton where he was involved in the conception and development of Kinsmen Park. In his later years, he was a founding member of the Family Leisure Center Seniors Club in south Calgary. A man of his time, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge and of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of Canada. He received many acknowledgments for his public service but was most proud of being awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. Wilkie had a long and successful career in the lumber and building supply industry and prior to his retirement in 1982, was acknowledged by the industry and named Lumberman of the Year for Western Canada. Our hearts are thankful for the wonderful care he received at the Beverly Center Lake Midnapore. Please join us for a Celebration of Wilkie's life on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 2:00 p.m. at McDougall United Church, 8516 Athabasca Street S.E., Calgary. Gathering and light lunch to follow.
