Walter Joseph Huska was born in Wayne, Alberta on June 25th, 1925 and died in Salmon Arm on April 5th, 2009. Walter (Wally) was the youngest and much loved child of Johanna and William Huska. He leaves to honour his memory Betty, his wife of 59 years, his daughters Kathrine (Matt) and Jeanette (John), his sons James (Marlena), William (Holly), and Thomas (Helaine), his beloved grandchildren Michael (Raegan), Deanna, Amy (Greg), Jonathan, Jessica (Troy), and Scott (Eliasha), 5 1/2 great grandchildren: Grayson and Presley Huska, Kaia and Emersyn Hagar, Ryan Gelderblom, and the 1/2way here Armstrong baby! He is survived by his youngest sister Amelia Tomlinson of New York, numerous nieces, nephews - both great and great great, and brothers and sisters in law. Walter was predeceased by his parents, brothers Alix and Fred, sisters Nell Kay, Rose Stefanko and Anne Andersen.
Wally’s education began in Wayne and continued in Sudbury, Ontario. He finished in Vancouver as a Marine Engineer. Walter served in the Royal Canadian Navy from the age of 18 when he received his ‘Call up’ (conscription) and worked in the engine room until the end of the hostilities, sailing across the North Atlantic to escort the ships fleeing Europe. He then took his marine tickets and sailed aboard tankers sailing to South America then working on coastal vessels on the West Coast from passenger ships to harbour tugs. In 1957 Wally joined Westcoast Transmission and worked with large compressor engines and the pipeline. The last years of his working life were spent in charge of training and apprenticeship programmes and in writing text books for each of Westcoast’s 32 stations. He then retired to Salmon Arm in 1988.
Walter’s love of Betty, his dancing partner, family and music, music, music, was paramount. He learned to play the violin as a small child and continued throughout his life picking up guitar, ukulele, organ/keyboard, piano, accordion, bandura, mandolin and anything else he could lay his hands on. If you could whistle it, Walt could play it. He entertained his elderly parents, sisters, family, friends, acquaintances and strangers from at home jam sessions, concerts, and dances then played for the other clients in the care home until last year. A lovely, lovely, man, son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend; Walter’s life will speak. He will be remembered as he lived - lovingly. Thank you, thank you to the caring Staff at Arbor House and to Dr. Kirkman and Dr. Greaves for their kind support. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice. A celebration of Walter’s life will be held Good Friday, April 10th at 1pm at Fischer’s Funeral Services, with Pastor Norm Russell officiating.
Arrangments entrusted to FISCHER’S FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORIUM LTD. (250) 833-1129, E-mail condolences to fischers@sunwave.net.