William "Bill" Killam

A great deal was expected of a man born 96 years ago in Boundary Creek, New Brunswick. Bill’s first job on the family farm, at the ripe old age of four, was letting the cows out each day, which inevitably led to his second job of putting them away each night.  He learned to drive before he was 13 and as a teenager he worked with his father and uncle building roads on Prince Edward Island. Later he pursued a variety of career paths including (but not limited to) service in the Royal Canadian Navy, electrician, math teacher, science teacher, deputy head of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation’s Superannuation department, real estate agent, hotel owner, retail gift shop owner, property manager, home builder, and home renovator.  Bill was truly a Renaissance man!

He was generous with his time and his skills; if something needed fixing, patching or jury-rigging Bill had a tool for that – he was your man!  He is known to have made an emergency repair to a vehicle with a coat hanger and a piece of chewing gum.  Those were different times.

A thoughtful man, Bill always loved company and conversation.  He was a lifelong learner and a voracious reader.  In the right setting he would recite poetry and sing.  Coming from a long line of public figures, Bill was a gifted speaker and could tell a joke, spin a yarn, or deliver a heartfelt, yet entertaining speech at his children’s weddings without breaking a sweat.  He made things look easy.

Bill was proud of his involvement with the Freemasons and was honored to hold the titles of Worshipful Master of Coronation Lodge No 151, Grand Lodge Officer, and District Deputy Grand Master for District 27.

Born the first of 8 children to Margaret (McCrae) and William Killam of Boundary Creek, New Brunswick, Bill was predeceased by his parents, siblings John Killam, Helen Anne Carey, Elton Killam, and Jeffrey Killam and his ex-wife Verna Killam.  He is survived and lovingly remembered by his six children – Shawn (Catherine Ireland) Killam, Anne Louise Kincaid, April (Paul) Dixon, Phaedra (Ian) Fairwell, Wyatt (Danielle) Killam, Aurora (David Shaw) Faulkner-Killam; his seven grandchildren – Paul, Josiah (Reanne), Taran, Hadassah, Joisan, Phoebe, and Griffin; and his great-grandson Jace; siblings Marjorie Yarema, David Killam, and Ryan Killam, and many, many nieces and nephews, as well as ex-wife and dear friend Susan Faulkner.

Though the majority of his lifetime was spent in Ontario and British Columbia, Bill dreamed of the banks of the Petitcodiac River in his beloved Boundary Creek, NB where he will be interred at a later date.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at Salisbury Funeral Home (506-372-4800) on Sunday, July 27, 2 pm with Pastor Dave McPherson officiating. Interment at the Boundary Creek Cemetery.

Online condolences at www.keirsteads.ca