In loving memory of Bill Stefanuk of Cranbrook, who passed away March 30, 2021. Bill was born in Yahk, B.C., on April 7, 1925. He passed away, with his son at his side, nine days short of his 96th birthday.
During the Second World War, Bill served in the Royal Canadian Navy, helping protect convoys to Great Britain. He would often recall the surrender of the German submarine U-889 to his ship, the HMCS Oshawa, at the end of the war, and how the German sailors "were just young boys, like us."
The kindness and lightness in his personality would be recognizable to all who knew him.
During his career as a realtor he was particularly determined to help working poor qualify to own their own homes. And he was committed to standing by his mother and his wife in their later years.
Bill was a social guy — it was not unknown for him to break out into a brief song or even a dance for a bank teller, cashier or such.
Bill was predeceased by Evelyn, his wife of 50 years. He is survived by his sons Bronte and Jason (Debbie), grandsons Kenton and Braden, great-granddaughter Leila, his sister Anne (Ron) Bush, sister-in-law Dora Clarke, and dozens of nieces and nephews.
Due to the times a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
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