Unexpectedly on March 10th, 2015, Wayne Corkum, aged 70 years, passed away at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre.
Born on March 15th, 1944 in Dorchester New Brunswick, he was the son of Marion and Clarence Corkum, now deceased. He grew up on Scott's Bay Road, Nova Scotia, leaving when he was 17 to join the Army in the Field Artillery specialty.
During his military career from 1961 to 1970, he was fortunate to have many interesting experiences including postings in Germany, Winnipeg, Edmonton and a United Nations Peacekeeping tour in Cyprus. The highlight of his service was becoming a proud member of the Canadian Airborne Regiment based out of Edmonton.
After leaving the Canadian Forces, he eventually re-settled back in Winnipeg, becoming a long haul truck driver for over 20 years. Wayne and his wife Lori moved to the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia in 1985 for a short time and he then wholeheartedly embraced being a military spouse, accompanying Lori on postings to Kingston and Thunder Bay, which is now home. Only recently retired, he owned and operated an upholstery and fabrication business based out of their home for almost 20 years.
Wayne had a huge variety of interests including spending time at camp, boating, riding motorcycles, and looking after his ever-changing collection of campers, boats, lawn mowers, cars, and trucks. He loved to dicker and "could sell ice to Eskimos" as his friends often remarked. He was a very skilled and intuitive carpenter, spending countless hours working on their homes, camps, designing and building furniture, and providing any type of assistance to friends and neighbours. To many, he was the one you could count on to always provide his opinion and expertise.
One of the biggest accomplishments of his life was getting his pilots licence. He was a member of the Kakabeka Falls Flying Club, holding the position of President for two years and so enjoyed flying his own plane out of the grass strip at Kakabeka Falls. Lori and Wayne purchased a winter home in Harlingen Texas in 2013. They spent the best winter of their lives as they made their nest there, exploring and enjoying the local area.
He is lovingly survived by his wife Lori (Holden) and special family members Nemo and Lucky, daughter Shelly Chmhalek, son Randy, brother Colin, brother-in-laws Jim, Murray and Mark Holden, sister-in-law Marie Wray, and their families, his very special friends, Dennis, Joe, James, Ray and Ron. He also leaves many friends and acquaintances who will miss his honesty and his sometimes irreverent sense of humour.
The Celebration of Life will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #5 at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 16th, 2015.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Thunder Bay District Humane Society. www.tbdhs.ca. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.
