Obituaries

Malcolm “Willy” Wilson was born on November 22, 1939, at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Regina, Saskatchewan.

His mother, Ruth, was a nurse in Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan who delivered babies from her home, as there was no hospital in the town at that time. His father, Hugh, served in the British military and later immigrated to Canada, where he joined the Canadian military. Hugh tragically passed away at the age of 45 in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan following an accident during military patrol.

At the age of 19, Willy decided to “spread his wings” and joined the Canadian Navy. When asked why the Navy instead of the Army, he would laugh and say it was because the Navy had a shorter wait list. His 21-year naval career took him from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Victoria, British Columbia, back to Halifax, and later to St-Bruno, Quebec.

While serving, Willy travelled extensively to Europe, Northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska and Panama on multiple occasions. These travels often came up later in life when planning holidays with Pat - he would simply say, “I’ve already been there!”

While stationed in Halifax, Willy met Eunice at The Peppermint Lounge. When asked if it was a seedy naval bar, he laughed and explained it was a recreation of Chubby Checker’s original Peppermint Lounge in Manhattan. They married shortly after and welcomed a daughter, Ruth Mae, who sadly passed away at four months of age from SIDS. Their journey later took them to Victoria, where their son Joe was born.

Willy retired from the Navy in 1979, and the family returned to Qu’Appelle. His Navy pension alone wasn’t quite enough, so he began working at PFRA in Indian Head, Saskatchewan, where he built another long and dedicated career.

Willy was a lifetime member of the Lions Club, where he held many roles over the years. He was a familiar bingo caller at the Brite Spot (later the Lions Hall). It was always smoky and hard to see in there, but he never seemed to mind. He was deeply involved in many Lions initiatives, including Sports Day, canvassing for the blind, among many other community efforts.

Willy and Eunice enjoyed travelling with friends, and he and his buddies also took many fishing trips up north. One memorable trip included losing their canoe and nearly drowning - an experience he later described as “a little terrifying, but made for a great story”.

Sadly, after a misdiagnosis of cancer, Eunice passed away.

Not long after, Willy’s later chapter of life began when Pat gathered the courage to call him. She told him she was a widow and he was a widower, and she would like to meet him. Willy replied, “I’ll pick you up for coffee.” This would be the start of many adventures for them.

From there, their relationship grew, and they were married in 2004. Together they enjoyed travelling throughout Canada and the United States. They also enjoyed their casino bus trips and other group tours. They especially loved their timeshare in Branson, Missouri, which they visited every two years. Bonnie, Chantell, and Jessica were fortunate to join them there once and share in the live shows they enjoyed so much.

On one of many trips, he traveled to Hamilton, Ontario with Pat, Bonnie and the girls. While in Hamilton, Willy had the opportunity to board and tour one of his old naval ships, the HMS Haida. He proudly showed everyone where he had worked, slept, and ate. He explained that they slept in hammocks to help counter the motion of the sea and prevent seasickness.

Eventually, Willy and Pat moved into Regina, where they made many new friends in their building. They enjoyed suppers, entertainment, cards, bingo, and happy hour.

Willy especially loved our family gatherings - barbecues, potlucks, and dinners. He considered all of Pat’s children and grandchildren as his own.

When Pat passed away in 2022, Willy spent much of his time creating a binder documenting his naval career. He recorded the ships he served on, the places he had been, and the memories that came with them. He proudly completed it himself, learning the computer with only a little help along the way.

On his 85th birthday, Willy suffered a heart attack and spent several weeks in hospital. After returning home, he found mobility increasingly difficult due to macular degeneration, and there were concerns about his nutrition. It was then decided he would move to the Renaissance.

After a period of adjustment, Willy began to settle in and make friends. He reconnected with friends from his previous residence who would pick him up every Sunday for breakfast and his regular casino outing. A few months ago, he also met a new friend, Joyce. With her companionship, he was able to attend entertainment events in the building and share meals. With Joyce’s help, and despite his blindness, Willy regained the confidence to go out again - making trips to Walmart and the bank independently. We are very proud of him for overcoming the hardships of losing his vision and mobility, he was always determined to keep on trucking.

Above all, Willy will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humour. No matter the situation, he could always find something to chuckle about. His quick wit, playful banter, and trademark sarcasm kept everyone on their toes and made time spent with him memorable. We will miss listening to his Navy stories and the countless tales he shared throughout his life. He had a way of telling them that made you feel as though you had lived those adventures right alongside him. Those stories, and the memories they created for all of us, are something we will cherish forever.

Although we will miss Willy deeply, we are grateful for the years we shared with him, the laughter he brought into our lives, and the memories he leaves behind. We take comfort in knowing he is now reunited with those he loved most. He leaves behind a loving extended family who will miss him.

As per Willy’s wishes, a private family gathering will be held to celebrate his life.

May you always have fair winds and following seas, Willy. You will never be forgotten.