In Memory of
Wayne
Woolfitt
Woolfitt
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Obituary for Wayne Woolfitt
We are very sad to announce the passing of Wayne Charles Woolfitt, age 84. 1939 - 2023
Wayne was born in Saskatchewan and spent his early life there, growing up on the family farm with his parents, Charles and Gertrude Woolfitt and siblings, Shirley, Kim and Ben. Wayne and his brother, Kim, both were strongly involved in 4H and showed cattle both locally and at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. He was a keen student and pursued his interest in agriculture, completing a BSc at the University of Saskatchewan. He was an avid long-distance runner and ran cross country for the university team. He completed his Masters Degree in Agriculture in 1963.
He won a Commonwealth Scholarship and embarked on further postgraduate studies at the University of Edinburgh. He decided to change course in 1964, leaving academia to put his ideas and learning about agriculture into practice, and returned to farm with family in Saskatchewan. He met his future wife, Glenys on his return journey, onboard ship, travelling from Liverpool to New York. Glenys joined him in Saskatchewan where they married in 1965 and their daughter, Catherine was born in 1966.
Wayne and Glenys decided to move to Nova Scotia in 1970 and set up Elysian Farms in Minudie, where their son, Jonathan was born in 1971. Wayne’s brother, Kim and his family, wife, Fran; children, Shawn, Brenda and Darcy joined them in 1974.
Wayne was one of the pioneers in raising livestock for markets west of the region. Together, Wayne and Kim operated one of the largest livestock (sheep and cattle) farms in Atlantic Canada. There was never a dull moment for their kids growing up on the farm. The cousins all have so many memories of shared adventures of life on the farm, playing and working outside and helping with farm chores like feeding and looking after the sheep and cattle.
Sadly, the stress of operating such a large farm became overwhelming in the late 1980s and led to serious illness for Wayne and his family moving back out west. His wife, Glenys died of cancer in 1990, a huge loss to all the family. Wayne subsequently lived in Kingston, Ontario working for Corrections Canada, eventually moving back to Nova Scotia to be near Jonathan.
Wayne was a familiar figure in Truro and Brookfield, having campaigned tirelessly and raised funds for the Terry Fox Foundation for many years. Jonathan’s mother-in-law, Judy and all the Matheson family were hugely supportive of his efforts over the years. Wayne aspired to a lifetime target of $100,000 and nearly reached that in 2022.
Wayne was an avid bridge player from a young age, having played with his parents on the farm. He came back to the game when he moved to Truro and played with the local Truro Bridge Club who also were great supporters of his Terry Fox work. He was able to pass along his interest in bridge to his son, Jonathan who grew to enjoy the game like his Dad.
Wayne was always interested in wildlife, and life on the farm offered the opportunity to observe the beautiful species, especially birds such as the snowy owl, that inhabit the Minudie marshes. Wayne had an incredible work ethic, valued education and integrity, and fostered these values in family life, in spite of struggling for many years with debilitating mental illness, which very sadly, made it difficult for him to enjoy the later years of his life to the fullest. He was extremely proud of his children, Jonathan and Catherine, and of Jonathan’s children, Jack and Jewel, and Catherine’s stepsons, Eddie and Conrad.
His son, Jonathan provided constant support over recent years, and they enjoyed many drives looking at the local countryside debating politics and other current events. Wayne was a keen believer in exercise and walked every day to enjoy the community around him, and never let the weather deter his passion for walking.
Dad will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, donation’s in Wayne’s memory to the Brookfield Terry Fox Committee are greatly appreciated.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro, NS from where a funeral service will be held on Friday, February 3rd at 2pm with Rev. Larry Harrison officiating. Reception to follow. Webcasting will begin at 1:58pm (AST) and is available along with online condolences at www.ColchesterCommunity.com.
Wayne was born in Saskatchewan and spent his early life there, growing up on the family farm with his parents, Charles and Gertrude Woolfitt and siblings, Shirley, Kim and Ben. Wayne and his brother, Kim, both were strongly involved in 4H and showed cattle both locally and at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. He was a keen student and pursued his interest in agriculture, completing a BSc at the University of Saskatchewan. He was an avid long-distance runner and ran cross country for the university team. He completed his Masters Degree in Agriculture in 1963.
He won a Commonwealth Scholarship and embarked on further postgraduate studies at the University of Edinburgh. He decided to change course in 1964, leaving academia to put his ideas and learning about agriculture into practice, and returned to farm with family in Saskatchewan. He met his future wife, Glenys on his return journey, onboard ship, travelling from Liverpool to New York. Glenys joined him in Saskatchewan where they married in 1965 and their daughter, Catherine was born in 1966.
Wayne and Glenys decided to move to Nova Scotia in 1970 and set up Elysian Farms in Minudie, where their son, Jonathan was born in 1971. Wayne’s brother, Kim and his family, wife, Fran; children, Shawn, Brenda and Darcy joined them in 1974.
Wayne was one of the pioneers in raising livestock for markets west of the region. Together, Wayne and Kim operated one of the largest livestock (sheep and cattle) farms in Atlantic Canada. There was never a dull moment for their kids growing up on the farm. The cousins all have so many memories of shared adventures of life on the farm, playing and working outside and helping with farm chores like feeding and looking after the sheep and cattle.
Sadly, the stress of operating such a large farm became overwhelming in the late 1980s and led to serious illness for Wayne and his family moving back out west. His wife, Glenys died of cancer in 1990, a huge loss to all the family. Wayne subsequently lived in Kingston, Ontario working for Corrections Canada, eventually moving back to Nova Scotia to be near Jonathan.
Wayne was a familiar figure in Truro and Brookfield, having campaigned tirelessly and raised funds for the Terry Fox Foundation for many years. Jonathan’s mother-in-law, Judy and all the Matheson family were hugely supportive of his efforts over the years. Wayne aspired to a lifetime target of $100,000 and nearly reached that in 2022.
Wayne was an avid bridge player from a young age, having played with his parents on the farm. He came back to the game when he moved to Truro and played with the local Truro Bridge Club who also were great supporters of his Terry Fox work. He was able to pass along his interest in bridge to his son, Jonathan who grew to enjoy the game like his Dad.
Wayne was always interested in wildlife, and life on the farm offered the opportunity to observe the beautiful species, especially birds such as the snowy owl, that inhabit the Minudie marshes. Wayne had an incredible work ethic, valued education and integrity, and fostered these values in family life, in spite of struggling for many years with debilitating mental illness, which very sadly, made it difficult for him to enjoy the later years of his life to the fullest. He was extremely proud of his children, Jonathan and Catherine, and of Jonathan’s children, Jack and Jewel, and Catherine’s stepsons, Eddie and Conrad.
His son, Jonathan provided constant support over recent years, and they enjoyed many drives looking at the local countryside debating politics and other current events. Wayne was a keen believer in exercise and walked every day to enjoy the community around him, and never let the weather deter his passion for walking.
Dad will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, donation’s in Wayne’s memory to the Brookfield Terry Fox Committee are greatly appreciated.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro, NS from where a funeral service will be held on Friday, February 3rd at 2pm with Rev. Larry Harrison officiating. Reception to follow. Webcasting will begin at 1:58pm (AST) and is available along with online condolences at www.ColchesterCommunity.com.