Mr. Wah-Yoke Lee

Mr. Wah-Yoke Lee 李華郁 (原名華煜) of Vancouver, at the age of 89, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2026 at Brock-Fahrni Pavilion, Vancouver, Canada with his beloved wife and loving son at his side after a short illness.

To those who knew him, he wore many hats — a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, engineer, entrepreneur, businessman, friend, and mentor. Above all, he was someone who lived

Wah Yoke was born on June 18, 1936 in Qingyuan, Quangzhou Province, China to Sai Ho Lee (李世豪) and Lan Yeung (楊蘭 , 又名 三妹). He was the youngest of eight children. Around age 6, he became separated from his parents as a result of political unrest. He was raised by his eldest brother who was in Hong Kong to take care of the family businesses.

Wah Yoke completed his primary and secondary education in Hong Kong. He then earned his baccalaureate in engineering from National Cheng Kung University (國立成功大學) in Tainan, Taiwan. When he returned to Hong Kong, he first practiced surveying before pivoting to construction engineering. He later joined a well respected construction firm based in United Kingdom, where he completed major infrastructure projects such as the Lion Rock Tunnel connecting Shatin and New Kowloon, the Argyle Station for the Mass Transit Railway—work he spoke of often and with quiet satisfaction. In time, his steady confidence and entrepreneurial spirit led him to co found his own civil and building engineering firm. It was a natural step for him—drawing on the experience he had built and his desire to take on work in a way that reflected his own values. In the years that followed, he continued to guide projects with the same reliability and quiet determination that had shaped his early career. People knew they could count on him; if he said he would take care of something, he did.

That same steadiness carried into every part of his life—with family, friends, and anyone who needed a hand. He never hesitated to help, and he always did it quietly, without drawing attention to himself. As he moved toward retirement, he carried that same steady approach with him, easing out of work on his own terms and taking pride in what he had built—both in his career and in the family he raised, which remained his greatest joy and pride.

He was a family man at heart. He raised his children with a gentle hand, never dictating their paths, often saying that too much concern can become interference (過份的關心就是干擾). He believed in giving them room to grow, offering guidance quietly and trusting them to find their own path. He shared his life lessons simply and without fuss—reminding them to work hard while they were young so they wouldn’t have to struggle as much later on (年青時要勤力啲做工，老啲唔使咁辛苦。), and encouraging them to stay close to family, because if one generation grows distant, the next grows even further, and by the third, we barely speak at all. (要多啲聯絡，唔好一代親兩代表三代嘴藐藐). He took great joy in seeing his four grandchildren grow, recognizing in them the same discipline, humour, and good nature he had encouraged in his own children.

Retirement gave him the time and space to enjoy life in new ways. After settling in Vancouver, he traveled, caught up with old friends, reconnected with extended family in Mainland China, and welcomed new ones into his life. He loved hosting, sharing meals, and staying close to them. He also returned to the quieter joys of reading, poetry, and calligraphy. Those who spent time with him in these later years saw the same dependable, good humored presence he had always been, simply with more time to give. He left many marks in the hearts of those who knew him and whose lives he touched.

He will be lovingly remembered by Suet-Mui (May), his wife of 61 years; his children: Adeline (Eric) and Samson (Fiona); his grandchildren: Audrey, Ernest, Charis, and Adrian; his sister Gwai Sheung (桂常); as well as the members of his extended family in Canada, the U.S., Hong Kong and China.

He was predeceased by his parents, Sai Ho Lee (李世豪) and Lan Yeung (楊蘭); his brothers: Park Cheun Lee (李伯泉), Chung Lau Lee (李仲流), Le Dyun Lee (李履端); sisters: Gwai Gui Lee (李桂嬌) and Gwai Ping Lee (李桂屛). He was also predeceased by several nephews and a niece, all remembered with affection.

Visitation

A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park at 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3M1.

Celebration of Life

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 10:00 am at Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park at 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3M1 (same location as the Visitation).

A Reception will be held at 1:30 pm Location: To Be Announced

Memorial donations

In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society or the Vancouver General Hospital Foundation, in honour of some of his charitable habits in life and the place that gave him comfort and care.

THANK YOU

Our family thanks each of you for joining us in honoring a life lived with steadiness, generosity, and quiet peace.