We are deeply saddened to share that our Dad, Brother, Uncle, and Grandfather, William Herbert Groves, passed away peacefully at home in Thunder Bay at the age of 86 with family by his side.
His birthday wish was simple (5 May 26) – to die at home. That wish came true on his 86th birthday when he left St Joe’s Care Group and passed away quietly one week later on 12 May 26.
Dad was born in Port Arthur Ontario on 5 May 1940 to Albert and Ester Groves (Sabo). He grew up around Valora Clarkton area near Sturgeon Lake north of Ignace Ontario.
Over the years, William worked many different jobs. Early on, he was a cutter skidder operator for Great Lakes Timber out in the bush camps.
After meeting and marrying Mary (Dietiker), they decided to move their family to Thunder Bay so their kids could get a better education by attending school there.
During his time in Thunder Bay, Dad held several jobs including City Transit bus driver and weekend highway bus driver for Grey Goose-where his CB call sign was famously “the Bionic Goose”-and also worked for Happy Time Tours. Later on, he proudly earned his Red Seal as a mechanic while working for Northern Woods Preserves and Rad Man. Even after retiring, he kept busy working winters at Canadian Tire before heading off to camp with Mom every summer.
William (known as Dad, Bill or Billy) will be missed dearly at camp by family and friends. He took with him countless stories about the history of Sturgeon Lake and surrounding areas that we’ll always hold onto and pass down through generations.
Bill spent most weekends and holidays at the family camp he built with Mary starting back in 1970 for her mother Edna Dietiker.
He had a great sense of humor and loved cracking jokes and pulling little pranks on everyone around him.
Family gatherings were really important to him – he’d spend hours preparing trays full of snacks for everyone. And oh man, his smoked fish (lake trout & whitefish) was legendary! His recipe was simple: fish, a 45-gallon drum, brown sugar, coarse salt, black coals plus flavored wood chips – that’s it! The family tried smoking fish like Dad did but it never tasted quite the same; he just had that special touch for making this treat for all of us.
Dad enjoyed guiding people too; tourist camps often called on him during summers. He loved sharing lake history while showing guests the best fishing spots-and if you got on his good side you’d learn those secret spots too!
Blueberry season was another highlight each year. Lots of friends asked him to pick berries because he could gather twice what most folks would manage. Mom usually cleaned them up afterward but over time Dad got pretty good at picking clean berries so she had some competition keeping up!
William leaves behind children John (Linda), Deborah Duguid (Rene Ledger), Tracy, William (Donna), Wendy Slobozian (Jose Pires); grandchildren Jason (Jenn), Ahron (Callie), Joshua, Jenna; brother Morris (Carol); sister-in-law Janice Dietiker; plus many nieces & nephews.
He was predeceased by parents Albert & Ester Groves; in-laws John & Edna Dietiker; brothers/sisters-in-law Jean (Alan) Allison; Shirley (Chester) Allison; Dorothy (Eric) Hertz; Beatrice (Bob) Hamlyn; brothers Albert (Anne) Groves; Donald (Daisy) Groves; brother-in-law John Dietiker.
The family wants to sincerely thank all caregivers from Thunder Bay Regional Hospital and St Joe’s Care Group who looked after Dad so well-as well as Drs Kelly & Ward along with palliative nurses Julie, Meredith & Angie plus PSWs who helped at home during his last days. He truly received compassionate care treated with respect throughout.
A Celebration of Life will be planned sometime soon.
If you’d like instead of sending flowers please consider donating to either Canadian Cancer Society or St Andrew’s Dew Drop Inn – two groups Dad regularly supported over the years.
The arrangements are handled by Simpler Times Cremation Centre located at 575 Central Avenue Thunder Bay.
You can leave your condolences online at everestofthunderbay. com
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