Wayne Edward Marshall
Nov. 13, 1973 – Nov. 12, 2023

One day before his 50th birthday, Wayne Marshall suddenly passed away. Wayne was born, raised and lived his entire life in his home community of Clearwater County.

Early years consisted of exploring nature while camping long-term in multiple locations in the west country, while his father built oilpatch lease sites/access roads and worked under contract to rebuild a section of the Forestry Trunk Road. With his brother and sometimes other kids in camp, every day it wasn’t pouring rain or snowing was a day to pick a direction and go until it was time to get back to camp for supper. Drilled into the boys at a young age was “pay attention to where you are going — because it is on you to find your way back.” With a pocketknife, some matches and sometimes a fishing rod in hand (no satellite devices or bear spray back then), out into the wild the boys went, and they always found their way back. Those experiences came in handy later in life.
Elementary school years were filled with Cubs and Scouts, and every spring, fastball. Back then, playing ball was a pretty common activity for youth (both boys and girls), especially those who lived in the rural areas. Being a good ball player doesn’t happen for most spontaneously — Wayne benefitted from having Uncle Gordon, who had the time, patience and coaching skills to make sure throwing, catching and batting became second nature.

Wayne was in junior high when a band program was introduced in Rocky and took to the saxophone with gusto. Flanked by fellow mates Cary Madsen, Billy Joe Graham and Ed Kostuch, they played continuously right through Grade 12, including a memorable trip to the Expo 86 in Vancouver.

During high school years, Wayne joined up with the Rocky Canoe Club and enjoyed recreation and competitive paddling — both canoeing and kayaking. At the 1987 Alberta Summer Games, he earned two medals on the water.

Both Marshall boys were regulars at the Rocky swimming pool, taking lessons all the way up through the Red Cross and Lifesaving Society programs which tops out with lifeguard and instructor certifications. At 16, Wayne was rough housing with a couple of friends in the pool lobby and broke a window. Aquatic director Lee Chambers was in his office and heard the crash, coming immediately out and demanding to know who did it. Wayne stood forward and took full responsibility, to which Lee pointed into his office and direct him to “get in here.” Lee asked Wayne if he had a job or money to pay for the window. Wayne responded, “no sir.” Lee’s response was, “I guess I’ll have to hire you so you can pay for the damages.”

That’s how Wayne got his first job as a junior lifeguard and instructor at the pool and developed an almost cult following of youth and parents who thought the world of him.

In response to two unfortunate local incidents resulting in the death of local toddlers, the community explored how to prevent the next tragedy from happening and ensure responses had the best outcomes as possible. The solution landed on in 1991 was to establish something new in Alberta — a community-based search and rescue team. On behalf of the ad hoc committee pulling this new endeavour together, Rick Morrish reached out to Wayne and his brother to join Rocky Search and Rescue on Day 1 because “the team needs people who can function in and around water.”

Like so many others in Rocky and now in 33 teams across Alberta, Wayne “answered the call” so others may live and went on to help found the Mountain Rescue Team established in 1994, was there for initial certification by the Mountain Rescue Association in 1995 and was part of the first crew to attain Heli sling certification when Ahlstrom Air started up.

On more than one occasion, on some dark and storming night, Wayne found himself on a rapidly deployed three-person team cast off into the wilderness somewhere along the Forestry Trunk Road, with little to no maps and a whole lot of wilderness around them, suddenly recognizing some ground feature and proclaiming, “guys I got this, I know where we are, I know the way.” Time spent out west as a youth came full circle.

After high school, Wayne transitioned from part-time work at the pool to a string of jobs, including working with Barry Horth doing handyman projects, working with his uncle Gordon doing dewatering operations for the oilpatch and municipalities, working for Kent Busby operating a range of equipment including serving as “Mr. Plow” in the winter, and eventually doing double duty working with and for his dad, doing dirt construction work during the day and supporting then wife Leah with Rocky Signs on nights and weekends. When his dad wrapped up the construction business and his time with Leah and Rocky Signs came to end, Wayne took a time out, bought a motorcycle and proceeded to have the “Summer of Wayne” — travelling all over until winter eventually put a halt to the rolling stone and the need for some income couldn’t be pushed off any longer.

It was at this time Wayne connected with Ryan Stambaugh, who was looking for people with the “right stuff” to start up an industrial fire and emergency response company. With his training and experience in rescue, emergency response and time bouncing around the patch, Wayne was a natural fit and came onboard Hellfire Suppression Services as the first employee hired. Wayne quickly ascended into leadership roles within the company, and particularly around training. Every once in a while, he would pull the crew together for in-service training and after everyone was assembled anticipating another industry sponsored “death by power point safety indoctrination”, Wayne would launch the 1968 Hellfighters movie starring John Wayne and declare it critical learning for all hands.

Wayne had numerous experiences over his career with Hellfire Suppression Services and you are encouraged to seek out their Facebook page for a more in-depth overview of his time. Probably Wayne’s most memorable experience was when the “Texas boys” called for help with a sour gas oilwell in Kuwait, on fire and out of control. The well was buried 30 feet under the surface (an upgrade after the 1990 invasion by Iraq) and the job was going to take a while to remove the burnt rig on top and excavate deep around the wellhead for access. It took three months in a foreign land to “get the job done,” and Wayne loved every minute of it.

Wayne was predeceased by his grandad Doug in 1995, who lived his last years in a trailer on his parent’s acreage, and by his father Edward who passed in 2022.

Wayne is survived by his loving mother Shirley, older brother Brad (Shannon), uncle Gordon (Jody), grandmother Wilma, former wives Leah and Ashley and stepdaughter Tori. In addition are numerous extended relatives and friends — the oldest being Brian and Therese.

No funeral will be held for Wayne. An informal celebration of life is being explored for the New Year.

As an expression of sympathy in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to Rocky Mountain House Volunteer Search and Rescue Society, via www.canadahelps.org.

Condolences may be forwarded to: www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.

Cremation entrusted to the Rocky Mountain Crematorium, Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements, 403-845-2626.