Wayne E. Hawkinson, 75, of Phoenix, Arizona entered into eternal rest on November 6, 2014, with family by his side. Wayne was born on September 3, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He moved to Arizona in 1972. Wayne owned and operated Tiger Plumbing for over 30 years, also serving as President of the Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors Association in 1995. His jovial nature and quick wit contributed to his success in everything he did and made us all smile even in his last days.
Very active in the community, Wayne was a member of the Masonic Lodges of Arizona and Minnesota, El Zaribah Shrine Temple, of which he served as a Past President of the Greeters Unit, and the Royal Order of Jesters, Court 17, serving as their Director in 2003. He also remained active with the Munds Park Billiken Klub. During the past few years, Wayne served on PVCC’s Community Advisory Board and also took classes in Golf, Yoga and Tai Chi.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 50 years, Vera; his daughters, Dorothy (Mark) Belanger, Karen Hawkinson and Linda (Andrew) Wilson; his son, Glen (Erin) Hawkinson and his six grandchildren. He was a kind, generous and loving husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed.
Services will be held on Monday, November 24, 2014 at 10:30 at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale, Arizona. Following this service, all are invited to a graveside service at Greenwood Memory Lawn at 2300 West Van Buren Street. A Celebration of Life will be held at El Zaribah Shrine, on Monday, November 24, 2014 at 4:00 p.m., 552 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85008.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Wayne Hawkinson’s name to the El Zaribah Shrine Temple or Shriners Hospitals, 552 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85008 or the Haven Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 52166, Phoenix, Arizona, 85076.
Wayne E. Hawkinson
1939-2014
A wonderful man….
Who was born to Elmer and Lela Flatten Hawkinson, a milk man and housewife, and had an older sister, JoAnne.
Who developed his strong work ethic delivering papers, even when he had to ride his bike through those difficult Minnesota winters!
Who graduated from Central High School and later Dunwoody College, to launch his career in plumbing services and thankfully met his loving wife, Vera, washing her car in her alley.
Who danced with his wife as a member of a Czech folk dancing group and enjoyed spending time at Sokol Camp.
Who moved from Minnesota to Arizona in a van with no air conditioning, telling the children to, “Roll up the windows and smile.”
Who started Tiger Plumbing and his center, Tiger Plaza, later serving as President of the Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors and the Plumbers Union.
Who said he’d always put his wife’s name in lights one day….and did when he opened Vera’s Laundromat!
Who was always armed with a pen in his pocket….and would jokingly say, “I need that back” as he was a bit nervous the person borrowing it might forget to return it!
Who could be counted on to sponsor his four kids in softball and baseball and then spent 9 years watching them in the marching band, while commenting that his kid was the only one in step!
Who loved to watch the Kung Fu TV series with his children/grasshoppers, and later grandchildren, and made sure everyone was quiet during the close of the show for the great lesson, “Each journey begins and also ends.”
Who loved animals, taking in stray cats to his plumbing shop, and not even getting mad when his own dog ate all the steaks off the counter – he just said, “Well, they were within his reach!”
Who made sure while visiting loving relatives and good friends in Minnesota, he always had to visit White Castle.
Who was a proud (and sometimes outspoken) democrat, who looked good in his fez hat and uniform in the parades for the Shrine enjoying his amazing friends, practical jokes and travel with his fellow Shriners.
Who always dropped everything he was doing to help his kids and grandkids with leaky faucets, car trouble or just wise advice!
Who could be seen with a smile in the front rows of La Casa De Crito Lutheran Church for over 35 years.
Who enjoyed traveling with his wife, Vera, and loved to also sit on the porch of his cabin in Munds Park and smile as he watched the many birds and squirrels eat from his feeders (that he made sure to fill each day).
Who loved to ice-skate, sled, make snowmen, go to the deer farm and Bearizona countless times with his grandkids and teach them card games like Skip-Bo.
Who enjoyed learning golf with his golf class, and playing a round with family and friends.
Who was proud that he could stand on his head in his seventies, with the help from his Tai Chi and Yoga instructors!
Who enjoyed wining and dining with family and friends and made it a sport to pick up the tab in the end.
Who always answered, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed,” when asked by his family what the doctor said after an appointment.
Who was always “the glass half full kind of guy” with a quick joke, infectious laugh and heart filled with love.
Who lived an amazing life, touched many people with his kindness, smile and humor and enjoyed life to the fullest!
Who deeply loved his wife of 50 years, four children and six grandchildren.
Wayne E. Hawkinson was truly a wonderful man and though he will be deeply missed,
he will be fondly remembered by all who had the honor of knowing him.
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