May 6, 1945 - January 4, 2022
On January 4, 2022, we said goodbye to our beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and brother-in- law, Frank Bywater, after a valiant battle with dementia. Frank was born on May 6, 1945, to Geoff and Barbara Bywater. He spent his childhood on the family farm in Dahinda, SK where he helped with farm chores, rode his horse Trigger, and developed his love of baseball, and his quiet wit. He had a mischievous nature that began as a child playing tricks on his sisters, Joan and Margaret Ann, and continued throughout his life. He studied at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and on July 6, 1968, wed his beloved Gwen in Regina, SK. They had two daughters' Danielle, and Laurisa, and made a home in Saskatoon until 2017. He was a devoted family man whose family meant everything to him.
Frank was an honourable and intelligent man who spent his career working as a customer service engineer, repairing computers at Burroughs Business Machines and Hewlett Packard until his retirement in 2002. Frank enjoyed reading and listening to some of his favourite musicians, Roy Orbison, Marty Robbins, and Willie Nelson. He liked watching and playing all kinds of sports, particularly baseball, and cheering for his favourite teams, the New York Yankees, and the Montreal Canadians. He coached his daughter's softball teams, loved family camping trips in the summers, beating everyone at trivia, and working in the yard or fixing things around the house. As one brother-in-law said, Frank could fix anything until he encountered dementia, and that was the one thing he could not fix. Even as his dementia progressed his qualities of kindness, honesty, sense of humour, and gentleness were evident to all who met him. As Gwen's father once remarked "He was a prince of a man."
In 2017, Frank and Gwen moved to Nelson, BC to spend their retirement years in the peaceful mountain town, home to so many wonderful memories of camping and time spent with family. As Frank's illness progressed, he enjoyed his time at Broader Horizons, puttering in the yard, and walks with family, prior to moving into long-term care. The family would like to thank the residents of Alpine Cottage, past and present, for making it a real home for him in his final years.
He held on as long as he could and passed away the morning of January 4, in the company of his family. Frank is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Gwen, his daughter Danielle Bywater, Laurisa Barley (Chad), granddaughters Ryann, and Devi Bartley, nieces and nephews, and brothers and sisters in law. We would like to thank the loving care aides, recreation aides, Dr Janz, and nurses who cared for Frank throughout his journey, particularly his Bonnie, who provided the love and companionship he so needed during the early days of COVID.
In keeping with Frank's private nature, no service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Society in honour of Frank.
He will be forever missed and held dearly in our hearts.
To leave a personal message of condolence please see Thompson Funeral Service website: https://www.thompsonfs.ca
Thompson Funeral Service