Walter Lyle Gadd
July 1, 1940 – August 7, 2023
It is with great sadness that the family of Walter Lyle Gadd announce his passing on August 7, 2023 at the Dryden Regional Health Centre.
Walter was born in Fort Frances on July 1, 1940; the first born of Lyle and Marion Gadd. Walter joined the air force in 1958 at the young age of 17. In October 1964 he met the love of his life, Sandra, at a Halloween Dance. They became engaged after two months of dating and were married on July 3, 1965 in Kentville, Nova Scotia. In 1965 they moved to Portage La Prairie and Tina was born a few years later, and Kim 11 months after Tina. In 1969 they moved to Goose Bay, Labrador and their youngest Sheri was born a year later. In 1973 they moved to Summerside, PEI, and from 1974-1977 they made Beaujour, MB their home. Walter moved his family to Lockport, MB where they lived from 1977-1983. Walter retired from the air force in 1981 and sold insurance for 5 years before moving his family to Dryden where his parents and the majority of his siblings resided. After moving to Dryden, Walter worked at ICG in Vermilion Bay for 5 years, and Superior Safety for 13 years. Walter retired in 2002.
Walter enjoyed coaching baseball, playing hockey as a goalie (from the age of 7 to 60), bowling, gardening, woodworking, camping, and spending time with his family. He is fondly remembered as constantly bugging and teasing all the little kids that constantly surrounded Papa Wally and Nana Sandy, meeting new people, and discussing Trudeau (!).
Walter is survived by his wife Sandra, his daughters, Tina Durance (Gord), Kim Oltsher (Jamie), Sheri McMenemy (Mike), his grandkids, Jordan Oltsher (Andrea), Justin Oltsher (Kayla), Alexsis Oltsher (Chris), Kaitlyn (Kolton) and Josh (Beth) Durance, Jeffrey and Kamryn (Carter) McMenemy, and his great grandchildren, Jackson, Cara, Jameson, and Jedson. He is survived by his siblings, Wes (Lorraine), Roy (Shirley), Irene, Fred and Glen, and his sister in law, Joan (Bill) Kennedy. Walter was predeceased by his parents Lyle and Marion Gadd, father and mother in law, Reg and Hazel Turner, and brother in law, Harley Johnston.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Princess Court DECO at Princess Street, Box 725, Dryden ON P8N 2Z4 or Second Chance Pet Network at Box 343, Dryden, ON P8N 2Z1.
There will be a celebration of life at the Dryden Flying Club on Saturday, August 12 starting at 3:00. This will be a casual “come and go” so everyone is welcome to come share their memories about “Papa Wally”.
