June 20, 1948 - February 5, 2022
In loving memory ~
It is with heartfelt sorrow and great sadness we announce the sudden and unexpected passing Brian William Marshall on February 5, 2022.
Brian was predeceased by his wife Bonnie of 33 years and his brother Jack Jr. Brian leaves behind his partner Loretta, daughter Erin, grandchildren Makena and Nolan, and sisters Carole Mork (Wayne), Arlene Hicks (John), and Barb Range (Charlie), as well a numerous other family members and friends.
Brian, the eldest of five children, was born June 20,1948 in Turtleford, SK to parents Jack and Vivian Marshall. Brian started working on the family farm at an early age; dropped out of high school in grade 10; apprenticed with Ed Philips Electric of Turtleford in 1968; started electrical training in Prince Albert, SK in 1969, and completed his electrical training in Victoria, BC in 1972. Brian was lured to Ladysmith, BC by family setting him up on a blind date to meet a Vancouver city girl named Bonnie Priest, at the Travellers Hotel & Bar. They married soon after in 1972, had Erin in 1976, and lived many happy years until Bonnie's passing in 2005.
For 25 years, Brian was Chief Estimator at Western Power in Nanaimo and always loved to work electrical side jobs. He then continued to run his own electrical company, Elm Electric until last year. Brian's passions also included real estate opportunities, adventures, travelling, and spending time with the ones he loved. He loved visiting with distant related family members or long lost friends and always made time to stop when he was their way.
With Brian, the shortest route from A to B in Ladysmith was never a straight line, it always involved many detours to check out what's happening in Ladysmith, with his own properties, or potential houses to wire. Brian was very proud of one building in particular that he had built from the ground up in 1993, Dunsmuir Square.
Brian met Loretta in 2006, which sparked a new sense of adventure in Brian's later years. They spent winters in their Arizona home, enjoyed golfing, motorcycle cruising, and travelling around the world together.
Friends were an important part of Brian's life. Brian had a close personal and professional relationship with Brian Childs, which included daily coffees at Childs' shop, followed by the "coffee circuit" in town catching up with the locals, even if it meant going out to a third establishment in one day.
If you knew Brian, you know he loved the latest gadgets, getting the best deal on something - even if it was buying in bulk unnecessarily, and of course his incredible work ethic.
A Celebration of Brian's life will be held in the warmer months. In lieu of flowers, support your favourite coffee shop, and have a coffee in his honour.