With heavy hearts the loving family of Mike Bakaway announce the peaceful passing of our husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa on July 25, 2021, at the age of 97.
Mike was born in Cudworth, Saskatchewan and was the 2nd oldest of 11 children of Pete and Dora; with 6 boys and 5 girls. Mike, a left-handed pitcher, began his baseball career on the prairies, first with Cudmore, then left his family home farm at the age of 18 years old and travelled west to Trail, BC, where he played hockey and baseball. The professional baseball scouts came looking for Mike in Trail, however, he’d already left to join the famous Bentley family and their Delisle team in Saskatchewan. He then returned to Trail, working at Cominco’s smelter before heading to Kelowna to play for the Kelowna Red Sox at Elks Stadium and working at the lumber mill. Other work opportunities with the mine at Copper Mountain led him to play in Princeton briefly before driving to the Coast where he suited up with Mission for a couple of seasons before a five year stint in the Dewdney League with Maillardville.
Mike married Shirley in 1958 and built their new home in Richmond which they lived in for 62 years and raised their three daughters. Mike also excelled at playing golf at Green Acres, Country Meadows and at several clubs in the Lower Mainland, winning many years of the Weldwood Golf Group Championships. Mike as well 5 pin bowled with the Weldwood Group. Weldwood was the plywood mill Mike worked at for 37 years (1951-1988). He also bowled with the Monday and Thursday, Shellmont, Zone, Seniors.
Mike also enjoyed watching all sports on TV; he was a great Canucks and Blue Jays fan, and card games with his Angels; Sheila, Susan and Lisa or anyone of his grandchildren. And his greatest joy was watching his daughters play golf or softball, his granddaughters playing softball, his grandsons (also pitchers) playing baseball when their teams came to the Lower Mainland from Kelowna.
Mike was honored by the Kelowna Falcons; throwing out the first pitch July 6, 2018, at Elks Stadium, to his grandson David who was playing for the Kelowna Falcons that year. Mike’s proudest moments were watching his daughters and grandkids sports games and especially all of their success and happiness in life.
Mike was predeceased by his parents Pete and Dora, brothers Peter (Kay), Lee (Betty), Matt (Anne) and survived and loved by wife Shirley, daughters Sheila (Paul), Susan, Lisa (Warren), granddaughters; Melissa (Mike), Amanda, Stephanie (Ryan), grandsons; Zac (Decora), Mike (Kaylee), Blake, David and great grandchildren; Chloe, Peyton, Easton, Avery, Alivia and Maverick, as well as his brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces.
The Family would like to thank all the staff at Hamilton Village Care Centre for their thoughtful and caring way of looking after our Mike. To our extended family and friends, we appreciate your thoughts and wishes of support. Thank you.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimer Society of BC.