Ernie Wakariuk
Ernie Wakariuk passed away on August 11, 2020 at the age of 75 years. Ernie was born in Drumheller, Alberta on March 26, 1945. From their he moved on to spend his school years in Smoky Lake and Barrhead. In 1963 he moved to Edmonton where he met and married his wife Audrey Nielson on December 18, 1965. They remained in the Edmonton area including years spent in both Gibbons and Spruce Grove until Ernie’s passing. Ernie resided at Westview Health Centre Continuing Care in Stony Plain since January, 2019 where he received loving and compassionate care until his passing.
Ernie not only had a love for sports throughout his life but was very skilled in all types that he played including hockey, baseball, football, English rugger, lacrosse, bowling and others.
Ernie had an amazing inner strength that carried him for the past many years as he struggled with various health issues. No matter how he was feeling he always managed to share a joke or a smile with both staff and visitors.
Ernie was pre-deceased by his parents and his only son Drew on February 14,2020.
Ernie is survived by his wife Audrey, daughter-in-law Suzanne Capkovic (Drew), daughter Debbie (Robert) Frost-Hunt, grand-daughters: Amanda (Jeff) Anger and Sandra (Jay) Rachuk; step-grandson Steve Choquette, great-grandsons: Carter Hagan, Austin and Braiden Rachuk and many other extended family members and friends.
A virtual celebration of life for close family members and friends will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations in Ernie’s memory can be made on-line to the Light Up Your Life Society or by mail to Light Up Your Life 4405 South Park Drive Stony Plain AB T7Z 2M7
We wish to extend our Condolences to Audrey on the loss of her dear husband Ernie and to the rest of the family and friends on their loss.
50 Years – where do start and where do we end? Our friendship has never wavered in 50 years; when we didn’t agree on something, we just agreed to disagree. Ernie was a big old Teddy Bear with an even bigger heart. I am having trouble writing this with the tears dripping on the paper. The four of us, Audrey, Ernie, John and myself (Leona) have been through thick and thin together, always trying hard to be there for each other in time of need. We have had a lot of laughs and also some tears shared together. Ernie was our Best Man and Audrey our Maid of Honour when John and I got married. It was an honour to have 2 such wonderful people stand up for us. Many years ago, when life was young, Ernie was attempting to show me a Foot ball tackle outside in the winter time just outside a Bingo hall ; he slipped in the snow and knocked me to the ground(face in the snow) 😅 , so he wouldn’t flatten me, he was arms out stretched holding himself up on all fours and Audrey standing and laughing her head off. It’s hard to cover 50 years but one thing that spanned all 50 years is Ernie’s heart of gold that never wavered. Wether coming back from Holidays or sitting in a Long Term Care home, he always wanted to give gifts, but the greatest gift of all, was his kindness.
We will miss you always Ernie and until we meet again, Rest In Peace and pain free.
Love from your short buddies, John and Leona Perra
Thank-you my dear friends for the loving words about Ernie. I am having a terrible time trying to accept the fact that our foursome has been broken and now there is only us three. Ernie so enjoyed the many weekends we spent at your place. We shared so many great memories. Thank you both for all the visits you made to the various hospitals over the last few years when his health issues were a constant struggle. It meant so very much to him.
Our deepest condolences on Ernie’s passing. Ernie was larger than life and he will truly be missed for his kindness and big heart. I will always remember Ernie always making a point of attending the blessing of the graves in St. Paul. This was just one of the many ways in which he demonstrated his kind and loving spirit for those he loved.
Ernie touched the lives and many and will truly be missed but he is now with Drew and all of those who he loved so much and have passed on. I am sure my Dad and Ernie are having a great time being together again and I am surprised that we cannot hear them laughing from heaven. May his memories warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.
Rest in peace Ernie.
Sincerely – Dave and Darlene Elanik
Thank-you David for your kind words about Ernie. Your entire family always treated him with so much love and he loved them all right back. Many times he told me about the fun times he had at your Baba and Guido’s with your Dad and your Uncle Mike when they were all young.
I pray that he is at peace now and Drew helped lead him home.
Our deepest condolences on your loss Audrey. May God grant you strength during this time.
Thank-you my dear friends.
Awww my Ernie Meister, I miss you silly antics and you sense of humor. This was you strength, you made me laugh and I made you laugh. You made the world a little better each time. We will always have those moments to remember. Our little furbabies made your day and they loved spending time with you on your bed. They were so comforted by you. I know where Drew got his strength from. I will never think of a buche de noel with out thing about you. Rest well Ernie, Drew is with you, and Mr. Dexter is waggling his tale for you. Love you!
Audrey, I just received word of Ernie’s passing from Eugene Kretzel. I am so sorry to get this news and hope you are as well as possible yourself. I have such fond memories of Ernie. While our paths did not cross much since we became adults, when they did, they too were memorable. I will never forget your visit to Ogden so many years ago. While growing up, we saw each other often at our farm where Ernie was the life of the party or whatever else was going on. I so fondly remember eating fresh peas in Mom’s garden when Ernie “showed” me how to eat a raw onion pulled right out of the ground. He was a giant of a man but a gentle, fun and loving giant. He is missed by all.
Audrey, my condolences. You lost two great men in such a short time and I pray you are doing well.
To me Ernie was “Drew’s Dad”. The big loud scary man who I believe had a gentle side as well. He taught us how to play Vegas blackjack, let me ride along with the family for a few vacations and he had a heart of gold that I never realized until I screwed up bad.
I never knew what grace was until Ernie showed it to me. I was making all the wrong choices and it came to head one day and my future was placed in Ernies hands. Without earning it he made a decision that set me free from my bad choices. I was humiliated and humbled. I thanked him but I could not bring myself to go back to Drew’s house. Instead I locked myself away from all the bad choices in my small town and contemplated life. Eventurally I had a life changing moment and left for good.
Ernie, you did for me a kindness that I did not understand at the time, but when I grew up I saw it all too clear. As a kid you were the scary giant to me at first but eventually I realized how wrong I was.
Thank you for being Drew’s dad and for being a good man when I was not.