This last weekend a close friend and someone that I have looked up to for quite some time passed away. Wilf Struck was killed while driving home from Canada to be home for his fourth of July party. He was killed by a drunk driver who lost control of his car and hit Wilf while he was riding his motorcycle.Wilf had always lived life on the edge but at the same time had an eye for cation. He was 51 years old and would be the first to push the limits of dirt-biking, snowmobiling and off-roading. Because of that he often led others to places they had never been or thought they would ever go, most times in ways they never thought they would get there. This mentality is what gained recognition as "Getting WILFED!" always an adventure but everyone always returned home safe and with a smile on there faces. Wilf was the basis for many joyful storys told around Sam's Tap room and and any other place where friends gather, due to the wild adventures that most had experienced while enjoying Wilf's company.
Wilf also had another side, the family man side. This may have been the most admirable trates that Wilf possesed. I think for me he symbolized the true family man. He was on the road for work quite a bit but always had his family as the top priority. He would drive hundreds of miles to make it home for one of his daughters events or to make it home to spend quality time with his family. He also incorporated his family in everything that he did. I remember him and the family driving there old jeep with the two girls Clair and Victoria in the back seat with the top off heading off-roading. I also have a picture of him taking his girls snowmobiling, what a trip that must have been. When I purchased Wilf's snowmobile from him he told me if I ever took Lauren out on it to not freak out if I happened to be driving along and the sled mysteriously died. It had happened to him plenty of times. He said that the culprit was normally that one of the girls had fallen asleep and their helmet had pushed the kill switch on the sled (useful information, and something only one that had done this plenty would know!). It is for these girls and is wife Cathy that I am most saddened by, because to have a father and a husband like Wilf would have truly been the best. My deepest sympathy goes out to them.
A few things that Wilf has taught me about life:
Never give up. Even if you are laying under your snowmobile or dirt bike and you don't think you can go any farther you can! and you will be happy you did.
Always greet people like they are your best friend and with a smile. Even if that person is calling you an undercover BLM agent (I didn't even know the BLM had undercover agents)
Live every day to the fullest. Especially if you are at work because work doesn't always have to be work. Enjoy it because this is life we don't get another one.
Your Family is always the most important. I was in Elk City with Wilf staking claims and we had to stay a little longer than originally thought which put me close to missing my anniversary. When I told Wilf that I may miss my anniversary if we had to stay much longer his response was that we would be back no matter what. He never batted an eye at dropping what he was doing to help someone else out.
Wilf your larger than life smile, endless love for live and passion for the outdoors will be greatly missed.
If you have any stories that you would like to share with others leave them in the comments section of this blog. I would also like to get some photos of Wilf enjoying life to share at his funeral or memorial service so if you have any sent them over and I will put them together in a slide show to share. I will also add any pictures to the bottom of this blog.
oh Garrett. That is such a nice tribute to Wilf. It is true that he had a smile for everyone. He was like a big old Golden Retriever that way, wasn't he? Always happy to see you, no matter what his day may have been like. Wilf was also the only other person I know other than me who -- until 2 years ago -- was still wearing his rear-entry Salomon ski boots. He was as proud of that as I was. Good man.
ReplyDeleteWilf and I met when were young geos in the mid 80's (old Glamis / Bema days). Never on the same project together, but somehow we ran into each other, often in different countries. He's my exact same age and we both married late about the same time.
ReplyDeleteToo many of our peers did not survive the economic ups and downs.
He was more successful than most and I would be proud to be his peer. Twice early in this decade, I was unemployed in Mexico with young children to support, Wilf found me in my time of need without ever asking if he had work for me. They were both short jobs - but really important during bad times in this business.
We pray for his wife and children with deep sentiment for their loss (our loss).
from Terry Brown, VP Operations - Metalline Mining Co. Sierra Mojada, Coahuila.
I met Wilf when he joined Bema as a junior geologist right out of university in 1978. He was an amazing young man friendly, gutsy, and could build a camp, a drill set up and could prospect like the best and he loved every minute.
ReplyDeleteHe volunteered to move down to Idaho in the early 1980's to Elk City where Bema had a new gold project. He and his mentor Gary Nordin were instrumental in the development of the Buffalo Gulch gold deposit and both explored the Elk City Gold Belt for a number of years. Wilf fell in love with the small village of Elk City and stayed on to build a fabulous log cabin.
Over the years he persisted in exploring and expanding his and others understanding of the potential of the Elk City Gold Belt.
He went on to many other projects over the years from Mexico to Alaska, Quebec and many of the western and south western States but he always came back to Elk City to drill ONE more hole and ONE more sample.
In Idaho he met and fell in love with a school teacher Cathy. Cathy was a gift from God for Wilf bringing stability into his out doors life. Cathy was a loving and solid anchor in Wilf's life of exploration ups and downs. They brought up two beautiful girls Claire and Victoria in a small town setting in Montana Wilf was a born family man and reveled in out doors family activities
Ironic isn't it. Wilf and his PEM team finally scored two amazing high grade drill holes last fall that showed the substantial potential for a significant gold deposit and were a real hit at the PDAC. The Friday before his fatal accident he announced the first closing of a $10million financing eclipsing all the Elk city fund raising's that had gone before
I can imagine his thoughts riding his motorcycle the night of his accident looking forward to getting home to Cathy and the girls for the July 4th party. He would have been on top of the world contemplating the major drill program for Elk City that would once and forever show the world his +25 years of hard geological and corporate work and sacrifice was going to be.....
But Wilf's life went far beyond the world of mining exploration Wilf was by far one of the most successful people I have ever known, a life of integrity, of caring, of loving family and friends, and always with that unique smile that was inviting friendship with an open heart
Success WILF my friend you were a major success as a Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Friend, Partner, and an Associate, Geologist, CEO, Director
God bless your family Wilf, you made this world a better place for all who met you and all that your life has touched and will go on touching in the future through the legacy you leave in love; your wife and daughters and family and your many friends
We all hope that we make
a difference in our passing through this world, I can attest that, you my man, did make a difference and I thank God for having you in my life.
I only wish there was one more time to tell you that I love you friend'
Rick Barclay
Thank you Wilf for showing me what good geology with grace is all about. Thom Calandra
ReplyDeleteFor my Uncle Wilf....came across this quote and thought of you:
ReplyDeleteAnd in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln
Katie Roberts
AUN NO CREO QUE WILF NO ESTE CON NOSOTROS. WILF Y YO PASAMOS MOMENTOS FORMIDABLES JUNTOS, DESDE HACE MUCHO, MUCHISIMO TIEMPO,EN LUGARES GEOLOGICAMENTE
ReplyDeleteEXTRAORDINARIOS EN MEXICO Y USA MICHOCANA SINALOA, JALISCO, SONORA,ARIZONA, EN FIN PASAMOS GRANDES MOMENTOS COMPARTIENDO CON LA FAMILIA Y DEMAS, CON PLANES PARA UN FUTURO PROMETEDOR, DIOS LO TENGA EN SUS SANTA GLORIA, ERA UN HOMBRE DE GRAN TALENTO Y FORTALESA CON UNA VIDA EXTRAORDINARIA, SIEMPRE ESTARAS EN MI CORAZON Y MI MENTE
BARNEY GREEN LEE
www.premiumexploration.com
VP Mining development-Mexico
Thanks for the write-up. You are absolutely spot-on.
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone in Red Lodge for supporting the family, putting in tons of hard work, and allowing me to tell a few Wilf stories as well.
Wilf and I worked and prospected together since the early 80's in the Yukon, BC, Canadian Shield,then Idaho and Montana and Wilf made the first discovery which started Bema Gold's good fortunes. We had a heap of fun hiking around- swatting flies doing a little work and having a few beers and enjoying life.
ReplyDeleteI left to do work with a few other companies and Wilf stayed in Idaho and Montana getting married to a beautiful person Cathy, working with his good friend Del, building a few companies and just recently making a large discovery in our old stomping ground Elk City. In this life persistance counts for a lot and Wilf had a lot.
We would meet through the years in Vancouver or Toronto and catch up on what we were doing and tell a few lies and have a few beers as the nights wore on. In the last few years he paid a few visits to me at Whistler and had some great days and a lot of laughs with my friends. Last March he came up with Victoria and Claire and we had an increadible few days in the powder and put a few smiles on the girls as we hiked a few slopes to catch some untracked. We had such a good time with Victoria and Claire- I can't believe how beautiful they are- Wilf and Cathy's nature is reflected in the girls -fun and caring shines through.
I guess things just happen sometimes and we continue on a little sadden but also enriched by the beauty of the wonderful warm person who has enriched our lives. I'll be continuing down the trail for a little longer Wilf but be seeing you soon enough around the next corner. Hope I get a chance to do one more run with your beautiful daughters - I know you'll be burning down beside them keeping them safe like always.
Keep an eye on us down here Wilf as we struggle though our days and maybe open up the clouds when you can and let your beautiful smile shine through to keep us warm.
I could use one of your hugs to get us though the day-just like from my other old friend Mike Beley also your friend.
All for now my friend see you down the trail.
Your friend Gary Nordin
Wilf
ReplyDeleteWe had many good days together throughout the 1980's prospecting through the Yukon, BC, Ontario, Idaho and Montana in the early days of Bema Gold- we had a lot of fun together- walked some beautiful country- swatted a few flies and had a couple of beer on the way. He made the discovery of gold in Idaho at Buffalo Gulch which started the development of several companies which lead to Bema Gold. I continued onto other companies in the 1990's as did Wilf- he stayed around Idaho met a beautiful girl Cathy and got married. I would see Wilf on and off at conferences in Vancouver and Toronto and we would meet up to tell a few lies and have a few beers late into the night. In the last few years we met up to do some skiing at Whistler and had some great times - especially last March with his two beautiful girls Victoria and Claire. We put a few smiles on their faces and had some great days in the deep power hiking the pikes of Whistler. His beautiful girls were just amazing- Wilf and Cathy's natures shine through in their girls - warm and caring beautiful girls.
I'll walk down the road a little saddened for a while but also enriched by the prescence of a kind caring warm person - my friend Wilf. I hope I get another chance to do a few more runs with his daughters and feel him burning beside us laughing all the way down through the beautiful snow. Take a look down on us once and a while Wilf and part the clouds a bit to let your sunny smile shine through and warm up my days. See you down the trail shortly Wilf and I'll be looking for your great big smile around the corner. Thankes for all the great times and friendship I'll always carry with me along my trail.
Gary Nordin
Vancouver
Wow my dad did impact more people then i knew, it means a lot to know that i had such a great man in my life to show me how to live life to the fullest. He wil be greatly missed.
ReplyDelete-Claire Struck