Walter Cecil Austman

Funeral Services with Legion Funeral Rites will be held on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK. The cremation committal will follow at a later date.Friends so wishing may make donations in Wally's name to the Saskatchewan Heart & Stroke Foundation as tokens of remembrance.Born June 9, 1932, Regina, Wally was a chosen son of Gudlina and Olgier Austman of Spy Hill. Wally attended Deer Horn School until after Grade 8 when he began work as a farm hand in Manitoba. He later returned to the Spy Hill area where he was hired on Leslie Walker's farm. It was there that he found the love of his life, Doreen Walker. This started a relationship that lasted more than 60 years and bonded the two in a marriage of nearly 55. In 1950, at age 18, Wally joined the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (P.P.C.L.I.) and was trained as a paratrooper. When the Korean War broke out, Wally signed up for duty, staying until 1953. On his return to Canada, he first worked for the CPR Railway, and then learned the upholstery trade. Wally married Doreen on July 21, 1955. Over the next few years, they had three children- Daryl, Tamara and Deidre. They moved from Moose Jaw, to Brandon, MB, and then purchased and moved back to Doreen's family farm in Ingleside, SK. Wally farmed for a few years, and then opened his upholstery shop; first on the farm and then moving to Russell, MB, from the late 1960's until 1973. The family then moved to Yorkton where Wally's Upholstery & Doreen's Fabrics remained open for over 20 years. Wally was always a very busy man. During the early 70's to mid 80's, Wally ran the upholstery shop, judged figure skating all over Saskatchewan and Manitoba, obtained his GED and took some university classes, became a Coordinator for the Parkland Community College and taught upholstery classes. Later on, Wally also became involved with the local theatre group, Paper Bag Players as the sound, lighting and stage man. He also enjoyed being a part of Parkland Writers' Alliance, where he was encouraged to write down some of the many stories he had to tell. In 1994, Wally ""retired"" from the upholstery business and joined the Commissionaires. Many people got to know Wally as he did his rounds at the Yorkton Library, the Parkland Mall and many other locations. Wally was a proud member of Branch #77 of the Royal Canadian Legion and represented his Korean Veterans' Association on many important occasions. He felt honoured to carry the flag as part of the Colour Party. Because of his war record, Wally was selected to be the driver for Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor, Lynda Haverstock, when she came to Yorkton, as well as to be part of Princess Anne's Honour Guard during her visit to Yorkton. Wally found joy in so many things- he was always looking for a new adventure, a new computer program or gadget, a new way to fix or improve anything and everything- Wally always knew there was a better or more efficient way of doing things. He was a voracious reader- devouring both novels and international news on-line. Wally loved to talk and wasn't able to go anywhere without stopping to chat with someone. He loved to travel and visited many amazing places, including Korea, Japan, England, Spain, Australia, Barbados and Paris. One of Wally's most joyous moments in his adult life was finding his birth family and getting to know his birth siblings, George, Clifford, and Helen and his new extended family. On January 22, 2010, after a long and valiant fight, Wally passed away, surrounded by his loving family, from complications due to heart surgery. Wally is survived by his much-loved wife, Doreen; son, Daryl; daughters, Tami (Shawn) Hall and Deidre (Darin) Feist, and grandson, Keenan Hall. Wally is also survived by his brothers, Wilfred (Helen) Austman, George (Marie Jean) McLelland, sister, Helen Lepley and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be missed by many.

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