Willie was born on January 5, 1922 in Morson, ON to the late John and Nora Almers. At the age of 13 he started running boats and doing some guiding. At the age of 18 he left the lake and enrolled into the Canadian Army. He served overseas spending time in Germany and Normandy as a field medic. It was during this time that he discovered boxing. He loved to box and loved to watch matches. As the sport evolved and changed he followed it with glee, taking in kickboxing and MMA matches as he got older. After the war he returned home to Lake of the Woods. He was Captain onboard The Ark for many years and during the winters he ran a Yacht in Florida called the Doe Rae Me. Willie loved to be outdoors, if he wasn’t on a boat, he could be hunting or fishing. He was united in marriage to Laura Fadden on August 29, 1972. They were inseparable and he was very devoted to her.
He was predeceased by his parents John and Nora; wife Laura on April 1, 2002; infant brother David; brothers John and Almer and sisters Elizabeth Meta, Rebecca and Katherina; nephew David Blight; sisters-in-law Louise Johnson, Gladys Peloquin and Marjorie Bolen.
Willie leaves behind nieces and nephews Betty Blight, Jerry (Martha) Blight, Forest (John) Armstrong, Elayne Blight, Wayne (Cathy) Blight, Amber Davidson, Star (Ben) Clarke, Wes (Norma) Blight, Ardie Blight, Trevor (Diann MacKay) Blight, Irving (Geraldine) Blight and Bryan (Linda) Almers; brother-in-law Gerald Fadden as well as a large extended family.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 22, 2019 at 2 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 54 in Rainy River, Ontario.
The honourary pallbearers will be Debbie Medwechuk, Tammy Armstrong and Debbie Desserre.
Cremation has taken place and Willie will be laid to rest with his beloved Laura this summer.
If friends so desire in memoriam donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Township of Lake of the Woods for the Morson Hall.
Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.
DONATIONS
Heart & Stroke Foundation2300 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4
Township of Lake of the Woods- For the Morson HallP.O Box 427, Rainy River, Ontario P0W 1L0
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