Marvin Granville Waller

Marv was born in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan to Willamine (Duff) and Cliffe Waller. He was one of two twins; his identical twin brother was Merlin. They grew up in a small town called Drinkwater SK with their four siblings Gordon, Ron, Rodger and Janice as well as his life long friend Ed Cairns. His grandfather and mother ran the post office in Drinkwater for 50 years; as children it was the twins’ job to collect the mail from the train when it came in. People often referred to Marv and Merlin as “twin”. He played a lot of sports growing up and Marv and Merlin could often be seen hitch hiking to Moose Jaw in their football uniforms usually getting a ride from the oil truckers. He also played hockey, baseball and curled, he loved watching Corner Gas because it was filmed in Rouleau SK, aka Dog River, where he played most of these. Add to these basketball and volleyball and you get the picture, he loved sports. When he was a teenager his family moved, house and all, to Moose Jaw. The family belonged to the United Church of Canada where Marvin and Merlin taught Sunday school. At the age of sixteen the twins quit school to help support the family after their dad was in a serious accident. His first job was at Valley Press. He eventually went back to school to finish his grade 12 and this is where he met his future wife Donna who had just moved back from Vancouver BC. He was a member of the YMCA in Moose Jaw because his doctor told him it would be good for his asthma and hay fever. At the YMCA he became involved in gymnastics, judo and swimming where he earned his bronze shield and became a lifeguard. This advice also helped him choose his future career, it was between Minister and PE teacher, PE teacher won.

Marv and his Sister Janice were the last to leave home when they moved to Regina to go to school. Marv attended Teachers College there. Marv was very proud of the fact that his dad gave him his old car and took very good care of it. He continued to date Donna who was working for the phone company in Moose Jaw. Donna and Marv were married August 24, 1963 in Moose Jaw and honeymooned in Waskesiu before moving to Kamsack SK for his first teaching job. Marvin taught Boys and Girls Junior high PE for four years before later moving to BC. Marv and Donna made many good friends that they keep in contact with to present day. Their daughter Cathy was born here in 1966 and Donna was expecting their son when they moved away. In the summer of 1967 Marv went to the U of Saskatoon to upgrade some courses before moving to BC. Donna and Cathy stayed with family in Moose Jaw and Donna gave birth to their son Rob there. In August they packed their car and headed out west to Mission BC where Marv had taken a new job with Mission Junior Secondary School. They decided on BC because Donna had grown up part of her life there and still had close friends there.

In Mission Marv became involved in playing and coaching hockey and baseball. Marv and Donna were also members of the Mission Granite Club and could often be seen at Dewdney Hall dances. They made many good friends over the years. Marv was very involved with Mission Minor Hockey; in 1988 he received a certificate of Merit from the Canadian Government for volunteer work. He also became involved with Hockey Canada running coach’s clinics. This lead to a trip to North Korea in 1996 to train their Olympic Hockey coaches. He also was Head Coach of Abbotsford Minor Hockey for many years; this meant realizing a life long dream of meeting his hero, Gordie Howe. He worked with Gordie Howe in his hockey school and was proud to have him to dinner in his home. He retired from teaching in 1999. He continued to coach and run coach’s clinics as well as going back as a TOC. He and Donna bought an RV and enjoyed travelling in the spring and summer both locally and visiting family and friends every summer in Saskatchewan. Their big trip was up North as far as the Arctic Circle in 2004.

He was Grandpa Marv to Cathy’s goddaughters Jessica, Cassandra, Katie and Melissa. He was Grandpa to Rob’s daughter Maddison and Papa to his son Cameron. He lost Donna in 2009 just shy of 46 years of marriage. He spent his final years living in their home with Cathy and Rob. Due to declining health he spent his final months in Tabor Home. He will be greatly missed by his daughter Cathy, his son Rob, his grandchildren Maddison and Cameron, his sister Janice (Daryl), brother in law Joe, Sisters in law Elaine, Barb (Rudy) and Byrne as well as many nieces and nephews.

Donations can be made to Canadian Cancer Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.