William Gaskell

William (Bill) Gaskell, born 16th December 1914 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, the son of Richard and Beatrice Gaskell, died 18th August 2010 in Thunder Bay, Ontario age 95 years. Predeceased by his parents, sisters Lillian and Beatrice in England, daughter Pauline in 1944, and by his beloved wife Alice (nee Syddall) in 1997. They married New Year's Eve 1938 at St. Bede's church in Bolton. Bill volunteered for military service with the British Armed Forces at the outbreak of World War Two and spent six years on active service with the RASC Amphibious Unit, the Assault Engineers and the Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He landed in Normandy on D-Day +1. He returned to civilian life in February 1946 as a heavy goods vehicle driver in the early days of heavy haulage in the UK before the Motorways. He knew where just about every low bridge was in the whole country! He retired in 1974 as Senior Freight Controller for the same company. Having taken early retirement Bill and Alice emigrated to Canada to spend time with their daughter's family. Bill obtained a position with the Confederation College Aircraft Technician Training Program where he spent 8 years and made many good friends, and was treated with great respect by students, staff and faculty alike. Survived by his daughter Anne (Ohlgren), and son-in-law Don, grandchildren Bernard Cullen (Samantha), and Elaine Vidas (Kevin), step-granddaughters Nancy Burt (Rob) and Heather Andrews (Matt), and nine great grandchildren. Many thanks to Dr. Melton, Dr.K.Arnold, Dr. Nigro, management and staff of Janzens Pharmacy, and everyone at Thunder Bay Regional and St. Joseph's Hospital who cared for our much loved dad, granddad and great-granddad in the last weeks of his life. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Bill's life will be held at St. Michael and All Angels, 675 Red River Rd, at 12:30pm on September 25th. Messages of condolence may be sent in care of NWAF, 331 May St. N., Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3R3. Donations in Bill's memory can be made to St. Michael and All Angels Church. "A Lancashire Lad through and through, Honest, Loyal and True." On line condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com "