Kenneth William Wallace

After a very tough year medically, Ken has gone to be reunited with his soulmate Marion. No doubt they will be entertaining with songs and jokes at the big campfire in the sky. Remember to keep the dirty songs to a minimum as they frown on that in heaven!

Ken was born in Hamilton to William and Bertha Wallace (Young). He was the eldest of 6 children and is survived by his sister Penny and brother Mark and predeceased by his brother Pete and sisters Greta and Wendy. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years Marion (Ellis). He leaves behind 3 children Donald Wallace (Debbie Millar), Cathy Morrissey (Darrell Morrissey), Ian Wallace, 3 granddaughters, Sarah Miller (Kevin Miller), Robyn Wallace, Grace Wallace, and great granddaughter Hannah Miller.

As a young boy growing up in Hamilton, Ken held a number of jobs including delivering newspapers and flyers, working for a local drugstore, a florist, assisting in furniture moving, and ushering at a local movie theatre. Later he was able to work as a coach for track and field and gymnastics, and co-developed and taught a guitar course for beginners.

Ken loved hiking at the RBG, canoeing, swimming, golfing, cross-country skiing, curling and camping. Music was always important to Ken, beginning with choirs in elementary school and the bugle band at Delta high school. Later in life Ken joined The Hamilton Men Teachers’ Choir and found real joy in leading community singalongs and latterly sang with the Albertones. He also loved leading campfire singalongs at Quinn Lake, Algonquin Park and across the country. Hence the nickname, “campfire Ken”.

Ken wanted to be a writer, but little did he know that teaching would eventually become his passion. As a phys ed teacher, he coached many teams in a number of sports, including Track and Field and Football. Throughout his career he served in a variety of schools as a teacher and later a principal within the Hamilton Community from Lake Avenue, C.B. Stirling, Gibson, Adelaide Hoodless and latterly retiring from Peace Memorial on the Hamilton Mountain.

Ken distinguished himself with leadership roles in his schools, the Hamilton Principals Association, and provincially with the Ontario Teachers’ Federation. He worked for many years on the governance committee for Quinn Lake, the federation’s summer property.

Ken and his late wife Marion loved camping. They spent many years with their family at Quinn Lake and later on in retirement came wonderful weeks each year in Algonquin Park, and extended camping trips across this great land, exploring, meeting so many people from Newfoundland to Yukon, learning and singing Canadian songs. It truly has been a life well-lived. We’ll be listening for that guitar playing from heaven.

Cremation has already taken place and the family welcomes you to join them for a Celebration of Life for Ken on Sunday, December 11 from 1:00-5:00pm at Marquis Gardens 1365 Sandhill Drive, Ancaster.

In memory, donations can be made to Neighbour To Neighbour or the charity of your choice.