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Obituary ~ William Marx 1947-2010
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Eulogy by Denis Peyre
Few people in our world have touched so many in such a positive and friendly way. Will was a special friend and support to many of us here today; to others, a citizen of the community who represented honesty, integrity, friendliness and a focus on the betterment of all.
I’ve always been fascinated by the extremes of his personality, bravely doing things that most would consider asinine for an adult without any experience or training: white water rafting on the most treacherous course, canoeing down the Peace River from Dunvegan to Peace River town - this guy couldn’t swim! Mountain trail horseback riding with no previous riding experience; riding a ski chair lift, skis and all, not realizing that in order to be securely held in, there was a safety bar that should be locked down.
Another part of his personality could be timid and “freaked out”. At some time, reading became difficult and could only be helped with glasses. A family member somehow made him feel that in order to have an exam, the eye had to be frozen via a needle. For Will, that just wasn’t an option! He tried to convince good friend Wayne Stafford to let him have his glasses and Wayne could buy another pair. Of course, Will would pay for them but no exam!
I don’t know where to start outlining Will’s community involvement: the Ag Service Board, High Prairie Seed Plant, High Prairie School Division trustee, M.D. councillor, St. Vladimir’s Cemetery board, High Prairie and District Museum, High Prairie History Book, and I know some have been missed. Involvement in these organizations were always given his conscientious best.
Local history and love of nature were fortes of Will’s. He spent major time as leader in developing the local section of the Trans Canada Trail, which is the old Peace River Trail. I understand he actually walked the Peace River Trail before the clearing took place. Another difficult walk he made was with Wayne Stafford from Slave Lake to Hilliard’s Bay on the north side of Lesser Slave Lake. Will knew every square foot of the local Jackpine area and spent many hours in this most favourite area with family and friends.
In winter, if conditions were right, he would be skating for miles on Horse Lakes. The clear, crisp outdoors - no indoor ice surface and warm rooms for Will.
Agriculture was also a major interest. Will took particular pride in the family farm, appreciating the sacrifices and hard work of his parents in developing it. He honoured their memories by maintaining it as they had, and was gratified to have been recognized the agriculture community’s presentation of the Farm Family Award in 1998. The farmyard and garden were where Will spent what I considered onerous hours in keeping immaculate. I’m sure his parents would be very pleased with the maintenance of their old farm yard.
Travel was another love of Will’s. Each year until he became ill, he would take a three-week hiking trip usually in Europe. This generally meant not going to the tourist traps or 5-Star hotels, but taking the back roads of history.
Cheryl, once retired, would join him for a less arduous visit with Nicole in Germany. Countries Will visited were Egypt, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, England, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Mexico, and I’ve probably missed a few.
You have to realize that Will’s travel caused stress for his male friends’ wives. It was somewhat of a coffee shop topic on how Will took off on a European six-week holiday and his wife stayed home and made the money! I’m sure some of his friends took this home for some interesting debates.
Politics is something that I never like to discuss in public but this leads to a little story. As Will’s friends know, he was a diehard Liberal. We all came to realize after losing a few political debates with Will, politics was a subject you stayed away from.
A few years ago I was having a Saturday coffee break at A&W. The restaurant was quite full. I was at one side and I noticed Will visiting friends on the other side. Super sales lady, Mabel Goulet, was in that day selling Conservative memberships. Some of us could see the direction this might be going and kept an eye on what was developing. Mabel finally got to Will’s table. We couldn’t hear the discussion but strained our eyes watching - sure enough, Will dug out $5.
Mabel handed him a card. A few of us never let him forget that he was now a card-carrying Conservative.
Will Marx was the fourth child of Fred and Maria Marx, the youngest sibling to join sister Cindy and brothers Lennart and Erwyn. Both of Will’s parents were from early High Prairie pioneering families.
Will took most of his schooling in High Prairie, completing high school at Mount Royal in Calgary. He met Cheryl Widdifield in September 1966 when both were enrolled in the Grande Prairie Junior College. The original college was an old two-storey brick schoolhouse, not today’s modem sprawl.
They seemed to accidentally meet on the staircase each morning - that’s their story.
“Good morning, Karl!” Cheryl would say. What other name would she ever previously have associated with the name Marx?
The ever pleasant Will would reply, “Good morning. I’m Willie.”
Cheryl’s story is that Will finally married her in March 1971 in order to solve the name problem.
Will and Cheryl moved to High Level in August 1971 where both taught school. The school staff was comprised of several young couples like themselves. They made lasting friendships there and have kept in touch to this day with several of these couples, some of whom are here today.
After spending seven years in High Level, during which time daughter Nicole was born, they moved back to the family farm in 1978. Will had always planned to teach for a few years and then farm full time with his father. This he did after teaching another four years for the High Prairie School Division. He cherished the next 10 years of working with his father. The two of them worked well together and he really missed the connection when his father passed away in 1992.
Will and brother Erwyn farmed together for the next 17 years and then son Rod, born in 1980, began to farm in partnership with him this past season. The circle of life continued - when Will and his family moved to the farm, he was the son alongside his father, and now he was the father working alongside his son; he derived much joy from the situation.
There is profound sadness here today. Time heals these feelings but the memories will be with us forever.
Editor’s note: William Marx was born May 21, 1947, and passed away Nov. 21, 2010 at the age of 63 years.
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