KAMLOOPS — In the days before her death, Lanni Shupe told husband Terry he will be OK.
Her own thoughtfulness contributed to that peace of mind.
Terry had his workshop. Terry had his toys.
“I was incredibly lucky to have connected with this woman who became my soulmate,” said Terry, the 82-year-old retired Kamloops Provincial Court Judge.
The Shupes lived in Cherry Creek – where Terry had a woodworking edifice he describes as sacred — until Lanni became ill and a move to Kamloops was necessary for her to receive proper care.
Lanni had one pre-requisite – their new home must have room for a workshop.
“For many months [after her death], I’d talk to her at night,” Terry said. “I don’t do that as much any more.”
Terry has been making toys for children in need since 2004, when woodworking skills came in handy while he crafted miniature bundles of joy for families devastated by a tsunami in South Asia.
Shupe took CFJC Today on a tour of his Brocklehurst home – the one Lanni picked out prior to her passing — and became emotional when asked if he remembers the first time he saw a child interacting with one of his creations.
“It’s a passion,” said Terry, who pointed to a photo of a Sri Lankan child playing with one of his toys. “It gets me out of bed in the morning.”
Terry was hooked.
Logging trucks, trains, cars, airplanes and other goodies made of wood salvaged and donated have been distributed across 13 countries over the past 20 years, some of them hand delivered by Terry, who has visited Sri Lanka on eight occasions, among other nations.
Many of the toys have landed in laps of those in need in Kamloops, thanks in part to a host of charitable organizations in town and Terry’s numerous visits to elementary schools.
More of them will be doled out on Canada Day at a booth in Riverside Park.
“I see the kids faces, you know,” Terry said. “On Canada Day, they’ll line up at the booth once the word is out that there are toys to be had. We’ll get kids all day long.”
Lanni suffered from a blocked artery that required surgery in 2020.
The operation went OK, said Terry, but the wound became infected and his wife of 47 years died that December.
“COVID. I couldn’t be with her,” Terry said, noting his wife was a beloved Western Canada Theatre actor and director.
“I delivered care packages every day to the hospital, mostly The Province so she could do the crossword, but those wonderful nurses on six south cut me slack in the last three days of her life and I spent those last three days with her before she passed.”
It was during those final days that Lanni informed Terry he would survive just fine living on his own.
He has his workshop.
He has his toys.
