Roger David Walker
Surrounded by his loving family, Roger David Walker passed away in Yellowknife, NWT February 1, 2021 following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He leaves to mourn the love of his life, wife Joni, daughter Ashley (Alexander) Debogorski, sons Mathew, Bryce (Morgan) and Ryan. His grandchildren, Logan, Joelin, Audrey, Leo, Lilah, Georgia, Alex, Wyatt and Aidan all of Yellowknife. Also mourning his loss, his mother-in-law Dorothy Orser, his siblings Jack (Cheryl) Walker, Dick Walker, Pat (Wes) Sadoway, Louise Walker (Colin Cox), Judy Walker, Wayne (Julia) Walker, and Wally Walker, Aunt Audrey Hawn as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Roger was born on April 2, 1957 the fifth child of eight to Bob and Lucy Walker. Roger grew up helping on the farm with many chores and hours spent dreaming of farming. As a young boy it was his belief that the dirtier you came home from the field, the harder you had worked! He spoke to this in a letter he wrote to his parents for their 40th anniversary. Roger had a gift of singing, dancing and also imitating people he knew. Any family function would see him leading the songs, as well as loving to get out and dance. He attended Linaria School and completed high school in Westlock. Roger was an excellent hockey player, playing Jr. B hockey in Barrhead as well as a stint of Jr. A hockey in Merritt, BC. Once his competitive hockey days were behind him, he played with the Linaria Barons. He was also a great fastball player, enjoying summers with the Linaria Outlaws, playing with brothers Dick and Wayne. Many of these early friendships have stood the test of time and the miles between them.
Roger worked for Alberta Transportation bridge crew for a few years out of school as well as helping on the farm. In the early 80’s, Roger and his brother Wayne started Walker Farms, a farrow to finish hog operation. Unfortunately, high interest rates and poor returns for their product doomed the operation, which left both heartbroken. Soon afterwards Roger received an offer from his oldest brother Jack, to join him in Yellowknife, an opportunity that changed his life in so many good ways.
Roger moved to Yellowknife in 1986 to become the night manager of The Yellowknife Inn, which his brother Jack owned. About a year later the owner of Peterson & Auger (the Coca Cola Bottler) decided to retire and Jack and Roger made an offer to purchase the franchise from him, as well as Northern Snack Food Services, which also supplied Old Dutch products. Within 5 years with Roger as general manager he had expanded their Coca Cola territory to include all of the NWT and Nunavut. Together, the brothers built a bottling plant in Iqaluit, Nunavut which was the most northern bottling plant in the world. Roger managed the bottling plant until Coca Cola made the decision to do all bottling operations in house and ship products on an annual Sea Lift each summer. They sold the Coca Cola franchise soon afterwards. During this time Roger also started a food supply business in Yellowknife, one which supplied goods to many diamond mines, camps and remote sites in the NWT, Nunavut, as well as sites in Alberta. Upon his cancer diagnosis, Roger informed Jack of his wishes for the business interests and his family involvement.
Roger met the love of his life Joni when they were in the process of acquiring the Coca Cola franchise, as Joni’s father was the owner of Peterson & Auger. He soon fell in love with Joni as well as her 2 young children, Ashley and Mathew. They were married on July 27th, 1991 in Penticton, surrounded by family and friends. Together they added 2 sons, Bryce and Ryan to complete their family. Roger and Joni built and renovated a cabin on Prosperous Lake, about 12 miles from Yellowknife. Each year they added additional structures to the property and called it home. It is a beautiful piece of property, one which they spent many happy days celebrating life’s accomplishments with family and many friends. Roger loved entertaining at the lake, welcoming all whom visited. Roger’s love for Joni and his children and grandchildren were always on display for all to see. He was the kindest and most devoted family man, a role model for what a husband, father, son, brother and uncle can mean to a family. Roger always put others first, his compassion for family and friends always shining through. He will be missed dearly by his family, his many friends around Westlock as well as many great friends in the north. He will always be remembered for his smiling face, his singing, joking, dancing and the joys of seeing his family gathered at his beloved cabin at the lake. A man taken from us way too young and too soon.
Most sincere “thank you” to the healthcare teams in Penticton, Kelowna and Yellowknife, who went above and beyond with care provided. You are heroes to all.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Niemann Pick Canada
(https://www.niemann-pick.ca/donate/) or the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada
(https://alzheimer.ca/en/take-action/donate).
Memorial donations can also be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Send condolences/Donations to: Wayne Walker
Box 5117, Westlock, AB T7P 2P4
Will forward all to Roger’s family in Yellowknife.
