William "Bill" Plank

William “Bill” J. Plank

William Joseph Plank, known to most as “Bill” passed away Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at his home in Oakville following a two-year battle with cancer.

Bill was born in Bluffton, Alberta on May 31, 1925 to Mabelle and Fred Plank. He attended the University of Alberta where he received his chemical engineering degree.

Bill’s entire career was with C-I-L and its subsidiary, Chemetics International Company. He started as a process design engineer, and his working stints in product and process development, production management and techno-commercial development saw him move with his family from Quebec to Alberta, back to Quebec and finally settling in Ontario. Mid-career, as the International Sales Manager for Chemetics’ Acid Technology Division, he was responsible for marketing the company’s products in all parts of the world except Canada and the U.S. Contracts were secured in over 30 countries.

Bill loved to travel and even after he retired he offered his services as a consultant in design, engineering equipment, marketing and sales in the sulphuric acid, fertilizer, smelting, plastics and waste recovery industries. After making his 40th trip to China, his wife stopped counting.

Bill will be forever remembered by his wife, Genevieve (nee Hamada), his sons Derek (Carol), Jordan and David. He will also be forever remembered by his sister Phyllis Shkrabuik, his brother, Robert (Inge) of Kelowna, B.C., his sisters-in-law Dorothy Hamada, Zenaida Hamada-Pawid, Amelia (Vittorio) Nanni and brother-in-law Lionel (Rosalinda) Hamada, his grandson Kai, granddaughters, Samantha (Rob) Knowles and Michelle Morris, his great grandson Lucais Knowles, his nieces, nephews, his extended family and many dear friends.

Bill was predeceased by his first wife, Linda Rose Margaret Plank, his daughter Dr. Susan Beverley Plank, his son Trevor James Plank, his brothers Charles and Lester and his parents.

Visitation will be held at the Ward Funeral Home, 109 Reynolds St., Oakville (905-844-3221) on Sunday, April 8, 2012 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. and on Monday, April 9, 2012 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. A church service will be held at the St. Jude’s Anglican Church, 160 William St., Oakville on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends are requested to join a reception at the Ward Funeral Home following the interment.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society in Bill’s memory.