On March 30, 2020, Wayne passed away very peacefully with his daughter at his side and his favourite jazz music playing. Wayne is mourned by his 3 children, Michele (Andy), Mike and Matt; and grandchildren Hana & Claire Mason and Ali Puumala (Vivier-Hannay) & Gabby Vivier-Hannay; and his brother Warren (Virginia).  He was also delighted to welcome two great-grandchildren to the family - Ali's sons, William and Jack.  Despite being separated for many years, Wayne's wife Marjorie was a caregiver in his final years, providing caring support for him until the very end.

Wayne had a long career in sales and marketing with Chrysler Canada, which took he and his family across the country - and back a few times!  Some of his favourite years were those he spent partnering with Rodeo Canada.  He enjoyed getting his hands dirty while helping out behind the scenes during rodeos, and especially forming great friendships with the cowboys and their families.

Friendship, in general, was very important to Wayne.  He was part of the notorious 'Boys from Brandon' - a group of boys who remained close friends over 7 decades.  He loved his friends dearly.

He was also a devoted father and grandfather and would show up to every holiday meal with a bag of goodies for the kids (which always included green grapes for some reason).

In the early 1960s, Wayne was Red Deer's Athlete of the Year – a testament to his love of sports.  He was a skilled player of basketball, fastball, baseball, bowling and hockey.  Over his entire life, he was very active on the golf scene.  He was a 'regular' at the Douglasdale Eaglequest Golf Course – both as a player and a marshal.   Wayne played hockey until he was 79 years old – and never lost his exuberance for the game.  He was known as a 'heady' defenseman.

Despite all his many skills, his family enjoys telling the tales of his not-so-handy handyman attempts.  One example of many: He was tasked to get rid of a wasp nest in the yard.  His first clever plan to 'vacuum' the wasps out of the nest failed.  Sadly, so did his attempt to cement them in.

Marjorie could write a book.

He was also known for his 'special' gifts and unique tournament 'prizes' – the trappings of his favourite hobby: bidding on '$5 mystery boxes' at local auction houses, where he was a regular.  He would end up with hundreds of useless and bizarre items that he would regularly try to pawn off to family, friends, teammates, neighbours, passers-by in parking lots...  No one was safe from his gifting!

Sadly, like many, Wayne struggled with dementia in his later years.  Wayne's family would be grateful for donations to the Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S Centre for Alzheimer's Research and Education Society  ( www.gordiehowecares.com )

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a celebration of Wayne's life will be planned at a later date.  We will toast his memory with gin & tonic, his favourite beverage – known to his granddaughters as 'Pops' medicine'.  He was also very specific about his final resting place.  His children were instructed to sprinkle his ashes on the 9th green of a golf course that shall go unnamed to protect the innocent.  Gin & tonic is to be involved, and also his best friend, Matty.

Wayne's family is grateful to the staff at Bethany ALC in Calgary for their kind care of Wayne during this especially challenging time.