PLASKETT, William “Bill” Allyn

December 14, 1946 — September 25, 2022

After a brief illness, William “Bill” Allyn Plaskett passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, at Kelowna General Hospital on September 25, 2022. Born on December 14, 1946 in Grand Forks, BC, Bill shared his birthday with his mom, Jessie. He called Osoyoos home for most of his 75 years, only work ever took him away. He was well-known in the community for so many reasons: from hobbies of bygone days to volunteer service, to his career in the transportation sector. Behind his big beard was an intelligent and generous man, ready for a conversation on any topic; he surprised many people with his breadth of knowledge. He will be remembered for his quick wit, endearing sense of humour, and unforgettable chuckle.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Linda (née Shepherd); children Trevor (Melissa) of Evansburg, Alberta, Bill of Victoria, BC, and Cheryl (Tim) of Osoyoos; and his pride and joy, his “half-dozen” granddaughters Dawn, Tatum, Addison, Tairyn, and Aili; and Dorie—his honourary granddaughter. He was predeceased by his father, Frank (1899-1992) and mother, Jessie (née Allyn) (1907-1995).

In BC, he spent a lifetime in the trucking industry: over 55 years. He trained initially as a mechanic before making the switch to driving, and despite assurances to his wife that he would never own a big truck – he somehow ended up owning a fleet. Bill and Linda began operations at Iron Bull Holdings in April 1994 with the first truck and grew the company to eleven trucks on the road today. The company success was certainly due to his work ethic, but also the way he did business. His inside knowledge of the industry, great understanding of people and his governing sense of right has grown an incredible following. Expressions of loyalty and great fondness have echoed from drivers, customers, and suppliers alike. A family operation from the start, a family operation it will remain.

Despite the time he spent behind the wheel or behind the desk, Bill was still able to foster a variety of interests. His tool collection served him well for the years he spent working on cars and servicing his own trucks, as well as for woodworking. The one time he couldn’t fix something was during a power outage when his young granddaughter asked him to turn on the lights. He spent many weekends competing at regional trap shoots: collecting buckles and even making it to the BC Summer Games. The first one in the family with a ski-boat, he spent time water skiing and scuba diving. In fact, he loved anything with a motor, including motorbikes, snowmobiles, airplanes, and some legendary 60’s muscle cars. He also leaves behind a library of his favourite books and magazines, well-worn spy and detective novels, and a nickname of “Google Grandpa”.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Alice (nee Mayo) Dempster for her kindness in the beginning; and Bill’s brother-in-law Dave Shepherd and honourary daughters Jessica and Carla, for their kindness at the end.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to Cheryl’s charity of choice: KinSHIFT.ca.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Osoyoos in Spring 2023 to allow a lifetime of dear family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues near and far to attend.

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