Obituary of Eugene "Gene" Waldorf

Gene was the youngest child and only son of Nick and Genevieve Waldorf. He was born on October 22, 1937 at Providence Hospital in Daysland. Gene passed away May 16, 2014 at his vacation home in Osoyoos, B.C. at the age of 76. At the age of 18 months he spent several weeks in Daysland hospital with 3rd degree burns to his body, this was the first of many hospital stays in his life. Gene received his education at Lakefield School until 1948 when with only five students left, the school closed. He then finished his schooling at Leith. After his schooling he farmed with his father and worked for Bruce Campbell, then was employed by Crawfords of Alberta delivering machinery from the states. In 1960 Gene married Carol Zwack and they had six daughters they raised on the family farm north of Daysland. Over the years Gene was involved in many organizations some of these include the Elks, Ag Society, Arena Board, Agriculture Service Board, Seed Cleaning Plant Board, Battle River Hockey League, Rural Crime Watch, Hospital Board, Flagstaff Senior Housing Board and Daysland Town Council which he served as Mayor. If there was a board Gene was on it. After selling his farm Gene married Martha. He became an entrepreneur and opened Geno's Liquor Store in Daysland, complete with Emergency phone line. Gene was a regular at the Coffee Shop and Arena in Daysland where he enjoyed socializing with members of the community. He was the Town of Daysland's biggest supporter. Gene's true love was setting up the Aging in Place Foundation, which owns and operates Providence Place. This was his labour of love even up until his final days. In 2012 he received The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal which honors significant contributions and achievements of Canadians. That same year a Community Builders Dinner was held in Heisler on his behalf. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Martha; his six daughters Val (Robert) Volk, Jackie (the late Doug) Volk, Shelley (John VanderWoude), Annette (Lyle) Zimmer, Debbie (Daryl) Zimmer, Shauna (Brad) Zimmer; his two step-daughters Rhonda (Keith) Bendfeld and Rhodelle (Wayne) Taylor; his twenty-one grandchildren, Brad (Anna), Ryan, Jordan and Brooklyn Volk; Darci, Chelsie, Taylor and Lindsay Volk; Parker and Joely Zimmer; Courtney, Derek and Kolby Zimmer; Damon and Carson Zimmer; Brett and Mikayla Bendfeld; Elize, Beth, and Kennedy Taylor. His great grandsons, Trenton and Liam Volk; one sister Eileen Spiller. Gene was predeceased by his parents; sister Muriel Twerdun; and son in law Doug Volk. For his family and friends, Gene has been an example of determination, strong will and perseverance. To his final breath he maintained his quick wit, sense of humor and independence. A quote Gene lived by, "If you can imagine it you can achieve it. If you can dream it you can become it." ~William Arthur Ward A Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 24, 2014 from Our Lady of the Prairies Roman Catholic Church, Daysland, with Rev. Leon Kler as celebrant. Inurnment has taken place in the Daysland Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Gene are gratefully accepted to Providence Place, Daysland Hospital Foundation, Daysland Arena, or to the Battle River Community Foundation.