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KEVIN EDWARD MacASKILL
1936 – 2022
Kevin laid aside his Earthly incarnation on the sunny Saturday afternoon of February 5th 2022, in Nelson BC, with family at his side.
Kevin was born in Cape Breton NS to Evelyn and Gordon Lewis of Point Edward, the youngest of six children. At two years of age, Kevin and his sister Gwen were adopted, by Norman MacAskill (farmer, veteran, Halifax Explosion survivor) and Wilena (née Brewer; teacher), and raised in Wreck Cove, Cape Breton.
Kevin began his work life in Fishing and Construction. He joined the RCAF, in Radar and Communications, beginning a long career in Electronics. Kevin worked on the Distant Early Warning Line as a Radician, and with Canada Steamship Lines, Federal Electric Corp., Canadian Marconi Co., and Bedford Institute of Oceanography, before joining General Electric Medical Systems. At GE Medical, he worked as Biomedical Electronics Technician in Diagnostic Imaging (x-ray, CT scanners, and nuclear), as a Supervisor, in sales, installation, and architectural planning. This career took him and his family westward across Canada. Kevin lived and worked in all of Canada’s provinces and territories.
While stationed at CFB Summerside, Kevin met Gail (Hancock), a Flight Attendant for Maritime Central Airways, through a mutual friend. They married in 1962 and moved to Montréal, resettled in Halifax where their children were born, and moved westward over decades. Kevin retired in the early 1990s, and moved with Gail from Victoria to Nelson, joining the Nelson United Church and many community groups. They loved to travel together, adding to their list of visited countries. Kevin enjoyed B&W and nature photography, hiking, tennis, 10K running races, cross-country skiing, computers, cars, Scrabble and other word games, writing, meditating, cheering for his favourite teams, and soaking up the sunshine.
We knew Kevin as a grandfather, father, father-in-law, husband (and champion caregiver) to Gail, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, gentleman, naturalist, problem-solver, conservationist, tireless volunteer, storyteller, and poet. He was an extraordinary man of strength, conviction, honesty, integrity, and faith. He was a great listener, the last to leave a party, and a jokester with a mischievous grin.
Kevin was a bright and gentle soul, kind, friendly, patient, wise, witty, thoughtful, caring, keen, well-read, intelligent, compassionate, inquisitive, proud, humorous, multi-talented, reliable, humane, responsible, brave, cheerful, and peaceable. He showed kindness to all living beings, put others before himself, contributed his good energy to communities, and was a true gem, loved and appreciated by all who knew or met him.
Aside from his four parents, Kevin was pre-deceased by his wife Gail, siblings Eva Lampman, Lorna MacQuarrie, Thelma Cunningham, and Billy Lewis, brother-in-law Ian MacDermid, and nephew Stephen MacDermid. Kevin is survived by his sister Gwen, daughters Heather and Bonnie (Mark), grandsons Adrian and Ian, and many beloved nieces, nephews, sisters- and brothers-in-law.
Thanks to all who were a part of Kevin’s Earthly Community – the Helpers, the Healers, the Creators, the Forever Friends, & All who brought joy to his long and interesting life.
Kevin’s Celebration will be held through Nelson United Church in the near future…
Thank you for donations in Kevin’s memory to: the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy Canada, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, or your favourite charity.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Kevin Edward MacAskill June 1 1936
February 5 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Nelson, Province: Colombie britanique