William "Bill" Badiuk

With his family by his side, Bill Badiuk passed away on his 80th birthday, Friday, January 22, 2016.

He was born in Fort Frances to John and Mary Badiuk. Bill married Royline (Albert) on October 10, 1959 and they spent 56 years enjoying life together.

Bill and partner Ed Rinas started Northland Construction in 1959. His green Dodge trucks were associated with many construction projects in the Fort Frances area. Sub-contractors appreciated his ability as a general contractor to run an organized job site that met customer’s expectations. Customers, colleagues and friends respected Bill’s integrity, desire for perfection and building plans that used the full 4 x 8 sheet of plywood.

Four generations loved jumping off the dock, pounding nails and picking blueberries at the cabin Bill and Royline built on Swell Bay in 1967. Weekends at the cabin were filled with laughter, cards, fishing and an occasional bubbly with their friends and family that included Dove and Dorothy Coran. While their families were growing, New Year’s was celebrated at the cabin with the Nixons, Johnsons, Langtrys, Becks, Peloquins and Carpenters. For over 40 years, Bill humoured his friend Dick Carpenter by jumping from fishing hole to fishing hole across Rainy Lake… often returning with more tales than fish.

Bill will be lovingly remembered by his wife Royline; son Brad and wife Connee; daughter Tracy and husband Kirk Armstrong; grandchildren Matt (Nikki) and Natalie Armstrong (Clinton); Boyd and Cam Badiuk; great-grandchildren Noah and Rilee; sister Olga Roppe, brother in-law Hilding Ronmark, sisters in-law Olive Hache and Arvella (Jerry) Maxwell; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents John and Mary, sisters Irene Tkachyk and Lucy Ronmark.

Those who saw Bill’s demonstration using his tape measurer as a life expectancy tool know he was happy to have made it past 72 inches.

At his request, there will be no funeral service. Friends are asked to share memories with the family at 1203 Strachan Place, on Tuesday, January 26, between 12:00 and 3:00.

If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or the Rainycrest Auxiliary.

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.

Excerpt from He’s a Carpenter

Carpenters make

Carpenters create

They take the common and make it something to consider

Equipped with right materials they bind things altogether

The reason-being, for us to know He's a builder

Arden Gopela