A tribute to my friend Dave Williams 1940 - …
(Cartoons -- click near bottom)
I came to Canada in 1955 to Meadow Lake, Sask. I did not speak English, came from difficult circumstances, It was awkward for me. I wore shorts when nobody in those days wore shorts. I was made fun of. Dave Williams was in my Grade 11 class and took me under his wing. Dave was far beyond everybody in ability, maturity and intelligence. But definitely even then he was the square peg in a round hole. But, he was BIG, had a booming voice that would rattle windows. He was my protector. He was also an artist and writer and could do just about anything. He built a glass bottom boat in 1956 !!! out of scrap lumber which we launched in Meadow Lake with an official christening.
I moved, he moved, we lost contact.
One day, I don't know how he found me, he dropped in on me while I was working as Telegraph Opr on the CN at Sioux Lookout, about 1962.
Next, while in Thunder Bay, about '66 I got a call from Dave. He was in the air force (Sgt Major or some such by this time) and wanted to know if I wanted to go on a Search and Rescue Mission with him. I flew all day in a DC-3. Flying was his passion. I am told he flew a crop duster through a barn, just like in the movies. He also liked flying upside down in crop-dusters. Perhaps he wrecked one or two.
We lost contact again. One afternoon shift in 1975, I got a call from him while dispatching on CP in Vancouver, asking if I was the same Helmut Wisinger that he had gone to school with in Meadow Lake. He had found my name in the CP Employee Time Table. He was working (part time I believe) for CP in Revelstoke doing preliminary work for the MacDonald Tunnel. He was deeply involved in many aspects of Revelstoke life. We met again. He was quite involved in the construction of the resort at Three Valley Gap. See cartoon.
Once when visiting in Revelstoke about 1981 I had made arrangements to meet Dave for coffee. I was wondering how I would find him. Ha ! Down main street comes this ancient 1937 or so black pick-up with a railway cowcatcher on the front and marker lights and a steam engine headlight on top. Dave was different and had a very quirky sense of humour. He was also "green" before the word had been coined for something other than a colour.
In June 1998 I received a call from Dave from VGH (Vancouver General Hospital) advising me that he was to have an operation for an aneurysm the very next day by a doctor who had come in from Toronto or some such. I visited him. That is the last time I saw Dave as Dave.
The operation was less than a complete success. I am told he had at least 7 strokes during the surgery, had many follow-up surgeries to put in draining shunts and who knows what all. After weeks in VGH, he was transferred to Vernon to make it easier for his family to be with him, and then finally to Revelstoke where he now resides in the extended car unit. He did finish another book while in there (on flying). Dave never smoked or "did drugs". I don't think he drank, was an AVID outdoorsman. His exploits in that field are legend. If there ever was a single word to describe him, he was the "Mountain Man".
Dave married at about age 45 to Miriam. They had many dreams, many of which now on the back-burner. Miriam is a tower of strength to Dave, especially after his mother died of cancer in a hospital room next to his a few years ago. I do not believe he has other close relatives.
Now for some of the cartoons he brought while visiting me in the dispatching office in Vancouver in 1975. When looking at the cartoons, remember, this was a different age, a different operation and different circumstances than found today.