Lawrence Gerald Welk

Oct 3, 1931 – Nov 30, 2016

Welk, Lawrence Gerald (Bud) of Kimberley passed away peacefully at the Pines Kimberley Special Care Home on November 30, 2016 at the age of 85.

He was born in Perdue Saskatchewan on October 3, 1931 to parents Dave and Isabella.  He was the second oldest and only boy with three sisters.  The family moved to various small towns when he was a child as his father was a BMO bank manager.  His favourite childhood home was Duck Lake, SK where they lived on an acreage and he took care of several pigs, 50 or so chickens and a cow.  In his teens the family moved to Hartney Manitoba, where he graduated from high school in 1948 in a graduating class of 8 students.  He went on to work with a contractor to “electrify” rural Manitoba in the knob and tube days of electricity.  Later he started his own small company Welk’s Electric.  Over the years he became skilled at fixing almost anything.    He married in 1957 in Hartney Manitoba and moved to BC in 1959, first to White Rock and then Kimberley where he opened Bud’s BA service station.  He later worked for School District No. 3 (now No. 6) as a school bus driver and mechanic, retiring in 1996.  He had an analytical mind and was fascinated with physics and how things work.   There was always a calculator out and at the ready in his house. He worked long hours and always took pride in his workmanship.  Dad loved to boat and would pull us kids for endless hours (and sunburns) waterskiing around Wasa Lake at the family cabin.  He had a boat for most of his life, later enjoying boating at Koocanusa and Kootenay Lakes.  In his later years, he enjoyed “going for a drive”, exploring Alberta and Saskatchewan’s rural roads and revisiting childhood places.

He is survived by his four children Matt of Wetaskiwin Alberta, Audrey (Garry) of Kimberley, Virginia (Dave) of Smithers BC and Charlotte of Sherwood Park Alberta, two grandchildren Parker and Olivia and one sister Dolores (Don) Atkinson as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents David and Isabella and sisters Marie Mills and Bernadine Pritchard.

Those wishing to remember Bud may send donations in his memory to either the CNIB or Canadian Cancer Society, both charities that he regularly supported.  Thank you to Dr. Nash for your unfailing assistance and thank you to the 3rd floor staff at the EK Regional Hospital and to everyone at the “Pines”.  Your thoughtful and considerate care of Bud is so very appreciated.

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