IN LOVING MEMORY
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Walter (Wally) Alfred Herrmann, 84, on March 17, 2022, at North Okanagan Hospice House in Vernon.
Wally is survived by his wife and life companion of 60 years, Barbara Herrmann; son David Herrmann (Nola); twin daughters Karen Jespersen (Glenn) and Susan Defeo (Don); 8 grandchildren Crystal (Landon), Sarah, Brett (Brianne), Miles (Laura), Chelsea (Gage), Keenan (Taylor), Summer, Alex, Leah, Jacob; 7 great-grandchildren Jared, MacKenzie, Penelope, Adeline, Piper, Madilyn, Stevie; and brother Erich Herrmann (Dianne). He was predeceased by his parents Erich & Anna Herrmann, stepfather Henry Nicolay and youngest brother Dietmar Nicolay.
Born 1937 in Germany, he immigrated to Canada in 1951 with his family settling in Edmonton where he met Barbara and married in 1961. After the birth of their son in 1962 they moved to BC, purchased their first home in North Vancouver and then welcomed their daughters in 1964.
A skilled mechanic by trade, he worked for Waterloo, Ritchie Bros and Dominion Motors. In 1976, with a move to Vernon, he took on the role as service manager for Tri-Lake Lincoln Mercury and ended his career in car sales for Vernon Motor Products and Bannisters.
He loved the outdoors, enjoying gardening, hiking and countless summer days at his Okanagan Lake cabin. Throughout his life Wally was involved in organized sports from coaching minor soccer and baseball to participating in men’s soccer, downhill skiing, and x-country skiing. As a member of the Vernon Yacht Club and a sailboat owner, Wally along with Barb, took part in years of regattas, racing and weekend gateways.
During his retirement years he spent winters away in Mexico and later Arizona. It was during his winters down South that he developed an interest and passion for all things pickleball. This passion extended into his role in founding and supporting a thriving Vernon Pickleball Association.
Wally was a man of faith and will forever be remembered for his zest for life, loyalty to family and desire to learn new things. He was kind, respectful, hard working and the greatest teacher of all time. His gentle nature, welcoming smile, words of encouragement and life lessons will be greatly missed.
We are so blessed and grateful to have had him in our lives.
We sincerely thank the staff and volunteers at Hospice House for their caring support and wish to express our appreciation to Pastor Will Wiens for his visits, prayers, and words of comfort.
A private celebration of life will take place later this summer.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Walter Alfred Herrmann March 17th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Vernon, Province: Colombie britanique