Photo: Family photo

One of Canada's most notable surgeons will be remembered at a celebration of life on Aug. 25.

Bill Nelems of Kelowna died suddenly from heart failure on March 31 at his family’s cabin in Coldstream. He was 77.

Nelems, a thoracic surgeon, made history as part of the team that performed the world’s first lung transplant at Toronto General Hospital in 1983.

He later served at Vancouver's St. Paul's Hospital and in Kelowna, where he worked in UBC’s faculty of medicine, established the Okanagan's cancer centre and developed a tele-consultation program for rural patients. He was preparing for a new career as an end-of-life counsellor. 

“The thing I loved about my dad was that he was always reinventing himself,” daughter Sarah Nelems told the Globe and Mail in a lengthy obituary.

Nelems was born April 26, 1939, in Springs, South Africa, to Canadian parents. 

The family returned to Canada in 1956, and Bill studied to be a mining engineer before switching to medical school and graduating in 1966.

Nelems leaves his wife, Mary Ellen McNaughton, daughters Sarah, Martha, Rebeccah and Rachel, sister Bev York, grandchildren and ex-wife, Wendy behind.

He was also a noted philanthropist who helped miners get compensation and surgery for work-related lung cancers and started a mentorship program between Canadian doctors and nurses and their peers in Zambia.

An avid cyclist, he raised funds and public awareness through charitable long-distance cycling events in both Africa and Canada.

More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the celebration of life at Trinity Baptist Church, 1905 Springfield Rd. on Aug. 25.