On March 12, 2022 Walter Bruce Carstairs, formerly of Warburg, passed away at the age of 96 after years of battling numerous infections. Wally managed his illnesses with strength and grace, and never once complained about the pain.
Wally was born to Walter and Alma Carstairs on a farm near Glenevis. The second child in a family of four, Wally didn’t have the opportunity for much formal education. He enlisted in the army prior to his 18th birthday. He ultimately ended up on the front lines in Europe until the end of the war. Wally didn’t widely share his WWII experience but was always a proud veteran and earned a lifetime membership to the Royal Canadian Legion.
At the end of the war, Wally returned home and married Grace Tookey in 1948. Together they raised six children. They farmed in the Cherhill area until 1964 and then moved to the village of Warburg where Wally lived until he entered Salem Manor nursing home in the summer of 2018.
Wally is predeceased by his wife Grace and sons Bruce, Dwayne, Randy and Darcy; granddaughter Mary; sister Belle (Art); and brothers Doug (Marjorie) and George (Patricia). He is survived by his son Terry, daughter Lynn (Dave), and daughter-in-law Lucy; grandchildren Kristy, Cindy, Kimberly (Cory), Steven (Carlita), Michael (Amy), Jody (Mike), Sherry, Paul, and Bradley; great-grandchildren Rehbecca, Brynnley, Alexander, Aila, Corbin, Matthew, and Alyson; and special friend Lillian Wells.
Gramps will be fondly remembered for his love of hunting, fishing, camping and gardening. I’m sure if you asked him what was one of his favorite accomplishments, he would say teaching his grandchildren to hunt and fish. Wally volunteered as a member of the Thorsby and District Fish and Game Association for several years where he served in the positions of President, Vice-President, and Past President. He and Grace also spent several summers volunteering at the youth conservation camp.
Special thanks to the staff at Salem Manor for their compassion and care they provided to Wally. Your attentiveness through the past couple of years was even more vital with the numerous lockdowns caused by Covid. You became his family when we couldn’t be there. He enjoyed your company and especially the joshing around – when he could hear you. LOL. Again, many thanks.
A service will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 1:00 pm at the Warburg Pioneer Recreation Centre, 5335 – 50 Avenue, Warburg. Walter will be laid to rest in Union Cemetery, 49038 Range Road 30, Warburg, Alberta.
Tributes in Walter’s memory may be made to: Thorsby and District Fish and Game Association, Box 598, Thorsby, AB T0C 2P0. Donations will be used to send a junior member to youth conservation camp.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HainstockLeduc.com for the Carstairs family.
