May 28, 1956 — September 23, 2025

Wayne Wonnenberg was born in Kelowna B.C. on May 28, 1956, to Fred and Florence Wonnenberg, originally from Medicine Hat and Bassano, Alberta respectively. The family moved around a lot for work, before finally settling in Kamloops, B.C. and buying .92 of an acre of land in the Westsyde Neighbourhood, along the North Thompson River. At the time, the only neighbours were fields and chickens, and the family lived in a trailer on the property until 1974 when a house could be built.

Wayne was a member of the first graduating class of Westsyde Secondary School, newly built in 1973. He always loved nature and the outdoors: camping, fishing, and rock hounding. He enjoyed the open road from the seat of a motorcycle for many years before giving it up.

On August 17,1985 Wayne married his wife Jody and spent close to 16 years togther before divorcing in 2001. Wayne never re-married and one of his biggest regrets was not having become a father. In his adult years Wayne was an active member of many clubs and societies, not limited to: The Metchosin Farmers’ Institute, Luxton Antique Farm Equipment Club, Vancouver Island Blacksmiths Association, Royal Canadian Numismatic Association and the Victoria Lapidary and Mineral Society.

Wayne had strong feelings on the importance of family and community, and over the years he made the effort to share what he produced through his many hobbies. Whether it was wooden rabbit note-holders from his early wood working phase, gallon buckets of honey as Christmas gifts during his bee-keeping days, candle holders and decorative fish created as a blacksmith, photos of important events that he took while hiding behind the camera, and flies he’d hand tied, Or gifting us with as much education as a person might want on anything from rock hounding, gold panning and fossils, to bonsai trees, cameras, movies and wagon wheels.

Wayne was always ready to offer encouragement and assistance for any project, even if (or especially if) it involved learning a new skill in the process.

Wayne is Pre-deceased by his parents and his younger Sister Lynda Stabler. He is survived by brother in law Paul Stabler, niece Kassandra McMullen and nephew Johnathan Stabler and by his sister Judy Wonnenberg.

• Date : 2025-09-23
• Location : Kamloops