Karel Marinus Bakala
October 23, 1948 – November 6, 2020
It is with great sadness that the family announce the passing of Karel Bakala, aged 72 years, on Friday, November 6th, 2020 at the Dryden Regional Health Centre after a short illness subsequent to a period of ill health.
Karel was born in Alberta to Nick and Elizabeth Bakala. His early years were spent on the family farm just outside of Hiensberg with his siblings, Liz, Bertha, and Nick. In 1951, the family moved to Amesdale, North of Dryden. Three further children were born; Jimmy, Paula Anne and Ella. The family was complete. Karel continued to live and work near Dryden most of his life, working for Woodlands and the Dryden Mill for thirty years until retirement.
Karel met his beloved wife, Marilyn, in Dryden and they were married in August 1995. Karel and Marilyn lived in Richan for the most of their married life where they built their own piece of paradise on Sunday Lake next to Good Lake. There, Karel could pursue his hobbies of hunting and fishing and Marilyn pursued her passion for gardening and making their home beautiful. The couple greatly enjoyed spending time with their dogs Charlie, Shadow, Bernard and Bailey, fishing in their lake and outings in their pontoon boat. They joked that they would be careful to point out to any prospective fishermen that there were no fish left in the lakes!
Karel was a very kind man who would help anybody. He was happiest at home surrounded by his friends, family and neighbours.
Karel was also very skilled and could build and fix almost anything. He spent many happy hours in his shop in Richan which he constructed, complete with an attached apartment and filled with every conceivable tool imaginable. Karel and his friends Fred Skomroh, Terry Rafter and brother Jimmy Bakala would spend hours working in the shop on various projects.
The shop was also the venue for many gatherings and parties with friends and family; numerous photo albums filled with pictures, compiled by Marilyn, are testament to these happy times.
In 2017, the couple moved back to Dryden to another beautiful yet more-manageable home. Karel and Marilyn enjoyed happy times there too; spending time with Jimmy and Holly who were living just around the corner, being involved in charitable events and greatly enjoying the social events at the Legion.
Sadly, Marilyn passed in 2018 and Karel was heartbroken. He was greatly and lovingly supported through these sad times and subsequent illness by his beloved brother Jimmy and sister-in-law Holly.
Karel will be forever missed and cherished.
He leaves behind his siblings; Liz Gilbertson, Bertha Puddicombe, Nick Bakala, Jimmy Bakala and sister-in-law Holly, Ella McDonald and brother-in-law Brian, Paula Anne Francis and brother-in-law Tom.
Father to Deanna, stepfather to Bill, grandpa to Hogan and Harlo and uncle to his nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will take place at a later date once larger groups are permitted to be together.
The family would like to send their sincerest gratitude to Dr. Wilson-Smith and the nurses and staff at the Dryden Regional Health Centre for the compassion shown to Karel while in their care.
Should friends desire, donations to the DRHC Foundation may be made through the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Avenue, Dryden, ON P8N 2X3.
Condolences may be posted at www.dcfh.ca.
