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LAKING, EUGENE (GENE) HARVEY

Eugene (Gene) entered into eternal peace on

March 18, 2014 at Kelowna General Hospital.  Gene is

survived by his loving wife Lillian,  his son Bob Laking (Cheryl) of Brantford, ON, daughter Robin Hoffman

(Marty) of Kelowna, BC and grandchildren, Jodi (Don) and Kyle (Dawn) in Brantford and Andrew and Daniel in

Kelowna.  Gene was born February 3, 1937 in McAdam, NB a son of the late Clair and Bessie Laking.  He was the youngest of eight children and was predeceased by Ella (Bunny) Burrel, Ron (Colleen) Laking, Hazel (Frank) McNally, Lois (Burnell) Tracy, and is survived by his sister Jackie (Nert) Lord, Paul (Doris) Laking all of New Brunswick.  Sadly, brother Clair passed away several hours later in New Brunswick. Gene grew up in McAdam, NB and Thunder Bay, ON.  It wasn’t in his nature to follow the rest of his family into a career with the railroad.  After 6 weeks of working on the extra gang in Hinton, AB to appease his father, he decided to go back to school attending Lakehead Business

College and receiving his Accounting Diploma.  

While in Northwestern Ontario, Gene met the love of

his life Lillian Lyle of Dryden, ON.  They married on

December 22, 1955 and spent the next 58 years together.

Gene worked for St. Regis Paper Company (Twinpak) in Dryden and moved regularly with each promotion. 

The family moved to Montreal in 1970 followed by

Brantford, ON in 1973. Here he put down some of the

deepest roots and developed friendships that would

last a lifetime.  In 1977 he was offered a promotion

requiring a move to Calgary. In Calgary Gene became

involved with The Royal Canadian Legion, serving as the Forest Lawn Branch #275’s President for a number of years.  More deep friendships were formed with the

camping crew at McClain Creek and the

Ogden Curling Club. After retiring in 1994, Gene and Lil returned to their much beloved Dryden. Gene was later diagnosed with renal failure but, amazingly, Lillian was a genetic match.  In 1998 Gene received the greatest gift from

his wife, a new kidney and a new lease on life. 

Gene’s health started to decline in 2008 prompting a

move to Kelowna to be closer to family and medical

facilities. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 24, 2014 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with a funeral service at 1:00 pm at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road,

Kelowna, BC with Pastor Don Wilson as celebrant. 

Donations to the Kidney Foundation in lieu

of flowers would be appreciated.

 

Condolences may be sent to the family

by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com

250-860-7077.



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