William (Bill) Korol

March 12-1935 – December 8, 2025

Bill was born March 12, 1935 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the third child of Wasyl and Caroline Korol. He was raised in Saskatoon with his three siblings, Peter, Nadia and Maurice. Bill attended Princess Alexandra School for primary grades and then Bedford Road Collegiate. He preferred sports over scholastic achievements and was also involved in Optimist Clubs in Saskatoon. He regaled family and friends with many stories of his daring escapades that he took throughout his life with friends.

Bill always worked, beginning at preschool age when he helped the milk man with deliveries. He left high school to work with an oil field drilling crew for three years throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. He returned to Saskatoon and worked as a ticket agent for the Saskatchewan Transportation Co. and later moved to Edmonton where he was employed as ticket agent with Greyhound Lines. He met and married Catherine Mawdsley in 1955 and brought her to live with him in Edmonton. In order to provide for himself and his growing family, he took on two additional part time jobs, one as a clothing salesman for Hudson's Bay Company and during the evenings he sold investments for Associated Investments Ltd. These part time jobs convinced him of his skill in sales and he began working for MacKenzie and Feimann Ltd. Industrial Chemicals. He began with sales in Edmonton, then was made branch manager in Calgary, Winnipeg, returned to Edmonton and then became divisional manager and finally president of the company in Vancouver.

Bill and Catherine had four children: Sharon, Bill, Diane and Susan. They made their family homes in the various cities where Bill was employed and post retirement. These included: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Lions Bay, West Vancouver, Thetis Island and Qualicum Beach. They also had a winter home in Sun Lakes, Arizona, where they spent 25 winters with wonderful friends, playing tennis, golf and enjoying the arts. They hosted many dinners for friends and family. Sports were a common activity for both Bill and Catherine. They made many lifelong friends on badminton and tennis courts, golf courses and gyms. Bill was often eager to organize sports tournaments for badminton, tennis and golf that drew people together as a community. He facilitated venues, prizes and events with his humour and enthusiasm as 'no' was never a final answer to him. He was an active member of Toastmasters. His work in the chemical industry drew Bill into a variety of roles in national and international chemical associations and created opportunities for him and Catherine to travel and develop friendships with many throughout the world. Bill was an avid reader of history, economics and politics and his views about these topics were evident in almost every conversation. He served on the board of directors of the Fraser Institute and heartily enjoyed conversations with those like-minded in economics and politics. Bill's hobbies outside of work, reading and sports included listening to jazz and classical music, exercising in his home gym, kayaking, a stint of travel by motorcycle and nice cars.

Bill was predeceased by Catherine, his beloved wife of 68 years, oldest daughter Sharon Gayle Korol, his siblings, father and mother. Bill loved his family and always lived life on his own terms. He died December 8, 2025 and leaves to mourn his children: Bill (Dianne), Diane, Susan (Karl); grandchildren: Shannon (Steve), Angela (Jo), Jason (Ana), Michael (Allie), Blake (Mandi) and great-grandchildren: Everett, Jonas, Trinity and Braydon. There are also many close friends and community members, too many to name, who will mourn his death and also celebrate his very full and wonderful life.