It is with deepest sadness that we say goodbye to our loving, and always funny, Wayne Ernest Trueman, beloved husband, father, papa, and grandpapa. He died suddenly on March 16, 2023 of a heart attack.
He is predeceased by his parents, Ernest Jules Trueman (Ted) and Lillian Edna, and his daughter Lisa Anne. Wayne was married to his loving wife, Jan, for 53 years and is survived by daughters Jennifer (James, Robyn, Kaitlyn) and Sarah (Emma, Olivia) Doug. He was the proud papa of four grandchildren and two great granddaughters (Serena, Nyx), Jaden, and one great grandson (Jacob), and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wayne was born in Duncan, February 16, 1947 and grew up as the “big” brother to Brian and Shelley on a farm in the Cowichan Valley. He loved the adventure of growing up on the farm and later worked at gas stations, drove taxi, fished with his dad in Kyuquot, and worked in Northern BC before University. Wayne completed his B.Ed at UVic and his Masters at Gonzaga, as well as numerous courses at BCIT.
Wayne had a long and influential teaching career at Gold River Secondary School, where he taught shop, and so much more. He made a difference in the lives of generations of students, colleagues, and friends.
Wayne was many things to many people. He was a Life Member of Kinsmen, awarded Kinsman of the Year. He was honoured as Shop Teacher of the Year. He was a fishing guide and an entrepreneur who owned Mallard Enterprises. If something needed to be done, Wayne was there, working on it.
Wayne loved to travel, especially to Maui where he and Jan became Ohana (family). He loved the outdoors; parasailing, ziplining, rappelling down waterfalls, boogie boarding, paddle boarding, making friends, fishing, puttering at his shop, and getting firewood. He loved the Chemainus theatre and family gatherings. Wayne completed the Burning Boot, the Great Walk to Tahsis, three times! His sense of humour added to everything Wayne did.
Special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Gold River Health Clinic, Dr. Zorn, and McCall Gardens Funeral Service.
Celebrations of life will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at the Esquimalt Rec Centre, 527 Fraser St., and 2 pm Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Gold River Secondary School Gym. In memory of Wayne please wear aloha shirts or vintage car t-shirts.
The family has established the Wayne Trueman Memorial Award for a graduating student who is planning to enter the trades. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to this award in care of School District 84, Vancouver Island West, Box 100, Gold River, BC V0P 1G0 250 283 2241.
Aloha Wayne.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
-
Kim and Joanne Raabe
-
Dan and Randi Rye Randi and I offer our condolences to the Trueman family at this difficult time. Wayne taught both of our children in Gold River. We have many great memories of Wayne with our involvement in Kinsmen. So many laughs and good times. Wayne was a strong community supporter and was alway available to help someone in the community. He will be missed.
-
Wendy and Brian DeCorte Please accept our deepest condolences for Wayne’s passing! We met in Gold River and spoke a few times before selling our home on Hadfield. We remember Wayne especially because when I was going to Camosun, he helped me with the confidence I needed to tackle my courses in my fifties! You were both so well known and Loved in Gold River and we know that Wayne’s students were privileged to have him as a teacher!
Kim and I offer our condolences to all the Trueman family at this difficult time! We know he really loved his family and was such a community minded person! He will be missed!