KIDWELL, Captain Wayne Milton
DOB: May 24,1938
DOP: Sept 6, 2025
With Love and Sadness for the loss of my Life Partner of 47 years, I announce the passing of my husband, Wayne Milton Kidwell.
Wayne was born in Nelson, B.C., on Queen Victoria's birthday. For this, his mother received from the town a large steel baby carriage big enough for him and eventually his younger brother, Terry. As a young boy, he was back in the Nelson newspaper when his pet pigeon escaped and befriended a local crow. Several pictures of these birds perched together around Nelson were published by the paper, much to his dismay.
Wayne, whose father was an engineer for CPR, started his first job as a wiper on steam locomotives. Wiping down and keeping the "station side" shiny. He then turned to working on the Fraser River for a company named Harken Towing (McKenzie). There he learned to tow, tie up and walk on log booms. Later, with his Captain's ticket, he worked for Vancouver Tug, which later became Seaspan. From there, in the early 70s, he was sent to the North Sea to Captain the big tugs servicing the oil rigs, with his young family stationed in England for most of this time.
Returning to work from the North Vancouver dock, Wayne was known as an excellent boat handler who made his crew feel safe. His record of being a safe boat handler led to a stint training other Captains after his retirement. At that time, he was pulling what was then known as the largest log barge in the world. Besides enjoying the ocean, the whales and dolphins on his many trips through the Inside Passage to Alaska, he also enjoyed the small logging communities (that are no more) along the west coast. He was the last tug out of Lyell Island and proudly kept his Frank Beban hat - cause Frank, as he understood, was good to his men.
Wayne and his wife, Kathy, were married in the old Log Chapel in 100 Mile House by Rev. Ross Marks in 1979. Soon after, both moved from Port Coquitlam to a hobby ranch at Sheridan Lake, where Wayne learned all things haying, cattle, and poultry on his time off from tug boating.
After Sheridan, Wayne and Kathy moved to a 3-acre parcel on the hill above 100 Mile and started their journey as Snow Birds in a place once owned by a Canadian (Rogers), now Westwind in Yuma, Arizona. Wayne was also an avid fisherman/camper, with Nimpo and Howard Lake taking top spot.
Wherever Wayne went, his brand of dry humour went with him. His love of golf, pool, the gym, and card games (bridge, poker, and crib) was always on the go. He loved meeting new people in new settings. He enjoyed his time in public service with the Kinsmen in Port Coquitlam and later as a Lions member in 100 Mile House.
Wayne Kidwell is survived by his wife, Kathy and their two children, Crystal and Eddie Kidwell. He is also survived by his former wife, Jeanette (Dodds) Carlisle, and their children, Gary Wayne Kidwell (Marcella), Christine Jeanette (Kidwell) Eiswerth (Joe), and DarylWaymon Kidwell (Kara). Grandchildren: Tyler, Troy, and Ammie Parsons; Karin Smolik; Mathew Joseph Eiswerth (Lori); Ashley Christine (Eiswerth) Hoffman (Daniel); Coby Dylan Kidwell; and Nola Ainsley Kidwell. Two great-grandchildren, Evelyn Smolik and Brooks Daniel Hoffman. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Waymon (Si) Kidwell and Barbara Elizabeth Kidwell (Eberle). He is also pre-deceased by his older brother, Jerry Kidwell, and his wife, Louise. Survived by his brother Terry Kidwell (Sarah) of Port Coquitlam, sister Vera Card (Dave) of Pitt Meadows, brother Charlie Kidwell (Janice) of Delta and sister Sylvia Leslie (John) of Calgary. Also, numerous nieces and nephews. A small gathering is planned for the spring.
