Obituary for William "Bill" Calder
William Calder passed away at age 80 on December 28th, 2022.
Born December 10th, 1942 in Transcona, Manitoba to parents Jean Douglas and William Calder. Bill along with his daughter Traci and son Kerry moved to Thunder Bay in 1971 and married Maureen Gigliotti in 1972. They lived in Shuniah on Lakeshore Dr. for 47 years and made lasting friendships from his volunteer firefighting years. One fire call was in his own backyard. He wore many work hats, underwater demolition diver in the Canadian Navy, pipefitter, police Officer, welder, prosthetist, milk salesman with Kellough's Dairy, and finally a safety consultant/trainer in woodlands and sawmills for OFSWA (Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association, covering operations from Fort Frances to Atikokan, Ignace, Armstrong, Geraldton, Manitouwadge. Bill's favourite summer pastimes involved fishing for walleye and salmon and camping with family and friends. Moose hunting was a fall ritual with his buddies John Vainio, Clint Waldon and Howie Maunula. The camp he built, on a lot with water access on East Bay of Dog Lake was a labour of love with the help of many great friends. Summers were always busy with projects and work parties until noon, then the work stopped and fun began. Fishing with his buddy Doc (Brent) Sutton was always a given, followed by a sauna and refreshments. Winter always involved snowmobiling down the lake in minus 40 temps.
He also enjoyed mixed curling with Waldons at the Port Arthur Curling Club and Men's curling. He maintained a lifelong friendship with Ron Nowicki of Transcona thru weekly phone calls and yearly visits. Fishing experiences were always the topic of conversation. Bill was a proud member of the Port Arthur Masonic Lodge for 37 years and served as the District Deputy Grand Master in 2018/19 and also an affiliated member of Superior Lodge in Red Rock, as well as a 32 Degree member of the Scottish Rite. During Bill's time in the Lodge, he loved to volunteer with the Masonic Chip Program. He also enjoyed volunteering for the kettle program over the Christmas season.
He is survived by his wife Maureen (Gigliotti), daughter Traci (Doug Cochrane), son Kerry (Doris Boccalon) and daughter Erin (Brian) Dietrich, Grandchildren Tyler & Nik Wojtanowski and Madeline and Katelynn Dietrich, sister-in-law Vicki Gigliotti and brother-in-law Doug (Leila) Gigliotti, nieces Sharon James (Philippe), Alison (Dean) Gigliotti-Farmer, Kate Gigliotti nephews Doug James and his sons Brian and Noel (Natasha) James, Gregg, Neil and Brent (Jen) Gigliotti. He was predeceased by his first wife Donna, sister Ellen Bates and her husband Bill Bates, his parents Jean & William Calder, mother-in-law Ruth and her husband Bill Jacobs, brother-in-law Barry Gigliotti.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life is planned for Friday, May 5, 2023, at 11am, at Sargent & Son Funeral Home.
If friends desire, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
Born December 10th, 1942 in Transcona, Manitoba to parents Jean Douglas and William Calder. Bill along with his daughter Traci and son Kerry moved to Thunder Bay in 1971 and married Maureen Gigliotti in 1972. They lived in Shuniah on Lakeshore Dr. for 47 years and made lasting friendships from his volunteer firefighting years. One fire call was in his own backyard. He wore many work hats, underwater demolition diver in the Canadian Navy, pipefitter, police Officer, welder, prosthetist, milk salesman with Kellough's Dairy, and finally a safety consultant/trainer in woodlands and sawmills for OFSWA (Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association, covering operations from Fort Frances to Atikokan, Ignace, Armstrong, Geraldton, Manitouwadge. Bill's favourite summer pastimes involved fishing for walleye and salmon and camping with family and friends. Moose hunting was a fall ritual with his buddies John Vainio, Clint Waldon and Howie Maunula. The camp he built, on a lot with water access on East Bay of Dog Lake was a labour of love with the help of many great friends. Summers were always busy with projects and work parties until noon, then the work stopped and fun began. Fishing with his buddy Doc (Brent) Sutton was always a given, followed by a sauna and refreshments. Winter always involved snowmobiling down the lake in minus 40 temps.
He also enjoyed mixed curling with Waldons at the Port Arthur Curling Club and Men's curling. He maintained a lifelong friendship with Ron Nowicki of Transcona thru weekly phone calls and yearly visits. Fishing experiences were always the topic of conversation. Bill was a proud member of the Port Arthur Masonic Lodge for 37 years and served as the District Deputy Grand Master in 2018/19 and also an affiliated member of Superior Lodge in Red Rock, as well as a 32 Degree member of the Scottish Rite. During Bill's time in the Lodge, he loved to volunteer with the Masonic Chip Program. He also enjoyed volunteering for the kettle program over the Christmas season.
He is survived by his wife Maureen (Gigliotti), daughter Traci (Doug Cochrane), son Kerry (Doris Boccalon) and daughter Erin (Brian) Dietrich, Grandchildren Tyler & Nik Wojtanowski and Madeline and Katelynn Dietrich, sister-in-law Vicki Gigliotti and brother-in-law Doug (Leila) Gigliotti, nieces Sharon James (Philippe), Alison (Dean) Gigliotti-Farmer, Kate Gigliotti nephews Doug James and his sons Brian and Noel (Natasha) James, Gregg, Neil and Brent (Jen) Gigliotti. He was predeceased by his first wife Donna, sister Ellen Bates and her husband Bill Bates, his parents Jean & William Calder, mother-in-law Ruth and her husband Bill Jacobs, brother-in-law Barry Gigliotti.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life is planned for Friday, May 5, 2023, at 11am, at Sargent & Son Funeral Home.
If friends desire, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.