Ronald Leroy Wallace

Our family wishes to announce the passing of Ron Wallace of Saskatoon at the age of 83. Ron was born in Saskatoon on April 6, 1939, and was the only son of Roy and Verna Wallace. Ron’s passing is being mourned by his partner Jan Hagberg, children Alan (Brenda) Wallace, Rick (Chris) Mercer, Scot (Tina) Wallace, Ryan (Kellie) Bucknum, Karen (Bart) Maki and Lane (Charlene) Wallace, along with grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ron is predeceased by his parents Roy and Verna Wallace and his wife Lorraine Wallace (Wilson). Ron first married Doreen Henchel (Pederson) and had 3 children Alan, Scot and Karen, before marrying Lorraine Wallace (Wilson) and became a father to Rick, Ryan and Lane.

Ron taught at Walter Murray Collegiate for 30 years. Upon retirement from teaching, he managed the Prairieland (Emerald) Casino for 8 years before retiring permanently. Ron was a well-known sports builder and athlete.  He generously devoted a great deal of his time throughout his life towards building amateur sport, particularly hockey, locally, provincially, and nationally.  He was involved as a builder and participant in other sports such as baseball and football, but his legacy was amateur hockey.

Ron was selected manager of the 1967 Saskatoon Centennial Midget Hockey Team, bronze medalists at the Canadian Midget Championship and inducted into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019.  He was a player and coach of the Saskatoon Commodores Baseball Club during the 1960’s; President of the P.O.W. City Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon, 1970; Co-founder and President of the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association; President of the Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association, 1977 – 79 and appointed Life Member in 1984. He was Chairman of Adult, Senior and Intermediate Hockey for the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), now Hockey Canada, 1979 – 81; Twice nominated for President of CAHA and in 1980 received the Executive of the Year Award from the CAHA for Distinguished Service.  Ron was named “Mr. Minor Hockey” in 1983 by the Saskatoon Blades Booster Club. In 1985 was named “Sportsman of the Year” at the Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner and was inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame as a sports builder for hockey in 1986.  Ron was Co-founder of the Saskatoon Old-Timers Hockey League; Inducted into the Canadian Old-Timers Hockey Hall of Fame, 1988; Received Certificate of Merit from the Government of Canada for Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Sports in Canada, 1988; Chairman of Baseball for the 1989 Canada Summer Games in Saskatoon.  In 2009, he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame as an athlete and coach.  In 2010, Wallace Park (Willowgrove) in Saskatoon was named in his honour.

Ron was a people person and took a genuine interest in others. He enjoyed many card games, travel both in his motorhome or to international destinations but in particular Mesa, AZ and Kona, HI. His passion was visiting with his children and watching their families grow along with supporting his grandchildren and great grandchildren in their various activities. He hosted many pool parties at his home in Eastview for 25 years.  In keeping with Ron’s wishes there will be no public funeral service. There will be a memorial held at a later date. If anyone wishes to donate in Ron’s memory, we suggest a donation to the Kinsmen Inner City Hockey League, C/O 336-318 21st St E, Saskatoon SK S7K 6C8.

Martens Funeral Service is honoured to be entrusted with Ron Wallace’s care.