Obituary of Edward Bakke

Mr. Edward Bakke of Whitecourt, formerly of Camrose passed away on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at the age of 76 years. Edward Bakke was born on January 22, 1936 near Rosalind, Alberta. Ed grew up on a farm with his parents, one brother and three sisters. Ed grew up in a home where the kids sang together and later performed together as a group. As time progressed Ed and his sister Evelyn began to sing together at local events, which later led to Ed joining up with the band "The Western Five". As the group's popularity grew they traveled all over Western Canada performing which is how Ed met his wife of almost 50 years Shirley (Brenda) Bakke. Ed and Shirley were married on July 14, 1962. Although music was his passion he chose to give it up in order to raise his family. Ed and Shirley had five children Brent, Lori-Lynn, Shiela, Shayne and Shawn. Lori-Lynn passed away as an infant leaving Ed and Shirley with substantial medical bills, which led Ed to make the difficult decision to take a job that kept him away from his family for long periods of time. Although he spent much of the kid's younger years working out of the country he always managed to make his times at home with his family memorable and special. As with everything in Ed's life he always made the best of a bad situation. Ed became known in his chosen industry as the most knowledgeable, dependable, trustworthy and hardworking man that could be counted on by his peers, his clients, and his employees to share his gift. Even as Ed became ill and was unable to physically do the work himself he would still be called upon to share his wisdom in times of need. Work related injuries forced Ed to end his working career prematurely, but as in all things Ed chose to spend his time doing something else that mattered to him, and that was spending time with his grandchildren. Ed had eight grandchildren (Kaleigh, Kourtnee, Kellsie, Kade, Kenadie (Hopfe), Taylor, Danyelle, and Brayden (Bakke), who all have their own story of what their grandpa meant to them from digging frogs out of swamps, changing diapers, making them interesting lunches, taking them wherever they needed to go, just sitting and letting them decorate his face and do his hair, the many camping trips that the families went on, to spending hours on the highway only to turn around and come back because one of the grandchildren said they "needed him". Just like with his own kids Ed never really could say "no" to something they wanted or needed … he would always find a way. The last years of his life Ed was unable to move around easily and thankfully during this time he found a new best friend, his beloved puppy Cheeko. Anybody who knew Ed could relate stories about his sense of humor. We all kind of find it ironic that the day he was taken from us (far too soon) was just before noon on April Fool's Day. Ed would definitely have seen the humor in that one. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Shirley, his children Shawn Bakke of Whitecourt, Shayne (Tamara) Bakke of Whitecourt, Shiela (Brad) Hopfe of Sherwood Park, Brent (Bonnie) Bakke of Ft. Saskatchewan; eight grandchildren; one brother Clifford Bakke; two sisters Dorothy (Heinz) Boden, and Evelyn Thompson; and his dog "Cheeko". Ed was predeceased by his daughters Laverne and Lori-Lynn; and one sister Hilda Zimmerman. A funeral service was held on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. from the Burgar Memorial Chapel with Mary Ann Pastuck officiating. Interment followed in the Camrose Cemetery. If friends so desire memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to S.T.A.R.S. or the charity of one's choice.