Hugh Lakeland
August 20, 1942 to September 8, 2013
With a heavy heart, we announce Hugh’s passing. He went peacefully on a sunny Sunday afternoon after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hugh was a dedicated and endlessly loving husband, father, and grandfather, who knew no end to the amount of time he spent helping others. He came here from Australia in 1969 and lived in Vancouver with his new wife, Caroline, until their first child was born. He decided then that the city was no place to raise children, and moved his family to Courtenay, and shortly thereafter to a property in Black Creek which was nothing more than forest. In time, they cleared it and turned it into a working farm on which to raise their children.
He also worked tirelessly in Campbell River for 40 years, first as a mechanic with Steve Marshall Motors, and then for himself pulling wrenches at his gas station on the hill, and later settled on just mechanics, his real passion, at Lakeland Automotive. Over the years, he operated several ventures, and was well known for his friendly demeanor, conscientious work habits, the many inventions he created to get his customers back on the road when their frustrations mounted with a broken down vehicle, and his affectionate “mate” or “love” for everyone he met. The community members and travellers in and surrounding Campbell River were very important to him, and he appreciated the many friendships he made along the way. And every day after work for all those years, he was always happy to get home to his farm in Black Creek.
An informal service will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2013 at Halbe Hall, 8369 Island Hwy, Black Creek at 2:00pm to remember his kind-hearted nature and share stories. We would like to extend an invitation to all whose lives were impacted by Hugh to join us in celebrating him.