CLIFFORD GORDON BRANCHFLOWER

January 29, 1932 – February 11, 2023

On 11 February 2023, freeman of the city Clifford Gordon Branchflower passed away at the age of 91 with his family surrounding him.

Cliff was born January 29, 1932 in a small cottage hospital in Simpson, Saskatchewan. He was the youngest of nine children of Norman and Mary (Hunter) Branchflower, eight of which lived to maturity.

Unable to harvest a crop for seven years, Cliff’s parents moved the family to Wainwright, Alberta, where they lived until 1943, and Cliff attended school in Wainwright. In that year the family relocated to the Ardrossan area east of Edmonton. After completing Grade 9 in a one-room school two miles from the family farm, Cliff attended Fort Saskatchewan High School, achieving Junior Matriculation in two years.

After working for the summer of 1949 as a lifeguard/steam room attendant at Miette Hot Springs near Jasper, Cliff became an apprentice at a weekly newspaper in Edson, moving the next year to Yellowknife, NWT. In 1950, he joined the Canadian Army and undertook training at Camp Borden, Ont., as an Officer Cadet. After coming to a mutual belief with Cliff that he was “unlikely to become an efficient officer,” the army released him, and he began work at a weekly paper in Streetsville, Ont., a community later swallowed up by Mississauga.

After two years in Streetsville, Cliff returned to Edson, Alberta, where he met the love of his life, Ruth Smillie. The couple were married October 23, 1955, and spent several months in Kitimat. In 1956, they came to Kamloops, where Cliff spent the next 31 years in the composing room of the Kamloops Sentinel, which went out of business in 1987, and Ruth taught school for a few years before taking up a career as a music teacher out of their home.

Cliff began a career in public life when, in 1961, he became a trustee on the board of what was then School District 24. After 15 non-consecutive years as a trustee, five as board chairman, in 1980, he was elected to Kamloops City Council as an Alderman, serving eleven years in that capacity. In 1991, he was elected Mayor in a by-election following the death of Mayor Kenna Cartwright. He was re-elected Mayor in 1993 and 1996. After retiring from City Hall, Cliff and Ruth served an 18-month mission in Thailand for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, after which the couple became full-time grandparents to their nine grandchildren.

After Ruth’s death in 2021, Cliff spent his time visiting with his family and caring for his pet cat, Lucky.

Cliff will be remembered by his family as a man of integrity that was dedicated to serving his fellow men and women both publicly and privately. Never one to seek the limelight, he rendered assistance to those in need without wanting any credit for his good deeds. He was crystal clear in his devotion to the love of his life, Ruth, and since her passing has been eagerly awaiting their reunion in heaven. We take comfort in knowing that they are together again, and knowing that we will see them again as well.

Cliff is survived by his daughter Alison (Rick) Steffler and their two sons, Ty and Cole of Kamloops, by his son Wally (Shaunna) of Kamloops, their daughter Melissa of Lethbridge; daughter Kelsey (Brock) Olsen of Kamloops; son Ben (Brooke) of Saratoga Springs, Utah; daughter Riley of Lethbridge; daughter Denae (Tyler) Platts of Rexburg, Idaho; daughter Kara (Preston) Nicholas of Provo, Utah and daughter Hayley of Rexburg, Idaho. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Olivia and David Branchflower of Saratoga Springs, Utah, and Isaac and Makenna Olsen of Kamloops. He is also survived by an older sister Cora, who will turn 101 in a few weeks.

Service will be held Saturday, February 18, 11:00 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2165 Parkcrest Avenue.

Messages for the family can be left at the Kamloops Funeral Home website.

 

BERNARD (Bernie) MILL ROTHENBURGER

May 12, 1940 – August 12, 2022

Bernie left us last summer after a brief illness and a life full of accomplishment.

Born in Vancouver, he grew up in Oliver in the South Okanagan, where he excelled in sports including basketball, golf and curling, and became an excellent horseman as well. He had a strong social conscience, and many a dinner, while enjoying his mom’s fine cooking, was spent debating politics, philosophy and religion with his dad, who had grown up during the Great Depression.

After graduation from high school in 1958, Bernie obtained a B.Ed. degree at the University of B.C. He was the first one in his family — which included almost two dozen aunts and uncles — to graduate from university.

He began his career in Lytton, teaching English and History, then became a school vice principal and principal in Logan Lake, Westsyde secondary, Sahali and KamHigh. He was a respected and beloved educator, with many students and colleagues benefitting from his knowledge, compassion and wisdom.

In a principal’s address to a graduating class, he once told his students, “Education is a personal journey, we all take it, and it presents itself in many forms and in all walks of life…. It has everything to do with the passion you bring to your life, and what you learn as you go.”

Bernie never lost his love of education or his willingness to listen and learn.

After a time as a faculty associate at Simon Fraser University, he met and married Jo-Ellen Faulkner in 1972. He then became a childcare worker for the Ministry of Resources but soon went back to the classroom. He, Jo and the kids lived in Australia in 1985-86 when Bernie took on an exchange teacher assignment.

In addition to his many other interests, he was an avid outdoorsman, and, at one point, he and Jo took over the operation of the Wendego Lodge fishing and hunting resort on Tranquille Lake from his parents.

Throughout his life he endured many illnesses and chronic health problems, yet he courageously faced them all and retained his subtle sense of humour and continued to curl, golf and train and ride horses. He had a soft spot for cats and dogs of all sizes, and named all his chickens. He was also quite the movie buff.

Bernie is predeceased by parents Ben and Nora, and is survived by Jo, daughter Bobbi (Shane Sytnyk), son Jess, brother Mel (Sydney), grand-kids and lots of nieces and nephews.

We miss him. At his request, there was no service.

 

LOIS JACQUELINE CUTLER (nee GILL)

We would like to formally announce the December 17, 2022 passing of Lois Jacqueline Cutler (nee Gill), formerly of North Vancouver, BC and latterly of Kamloops, BC, at the age of 87 years.

Lois leaves behind two daughters: Leslie Thomas (North Vancouver, BC), son-in-law Graham, grandchildren Jennifer (Michael), Tara and Jordan, great-grandchildren Samuel, Charlotte and Paige; and Laura Cutler (Calgary, AB). Lois is also survived by her devoted friend, Dale Merrett.

Lois’s career and community accomplishments are innumerable and multifarious. She parlayed humble beginnings from participating in North Vancouver musical reviews and teaching hat-making into commentating fashion shows and voice-overs for CFJC radio in Kamloops. This ability to engage an audience morphed into securing a host position for the long-running CFJC-TV talk show “Let’s Visit A While,” the ever-popular “Carefree Cooking” and the seniors’-focused “Plus Generation.” Simultaneously, Lois was a keen volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Research Society and rose to the title of Interior Regional President. Furthermore, she recruited, coached, and chaperoned Miss Kamloops pageant contestants for 10 years and served on the Kamloops Bid Committee to host the inaugural BC Winter Games (1979), subsequently leading the hostess team of volunteers to execute the event. Her civic involvement also included becoming the first woman president of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce (1979-80). This position aligned with years of work for the Status of Women at local and national government forums. Also, her culinary experience resulted in Lois becoming a member of the exclusive La Chaine des Rostisseurs gastronomy association, positions on the BC Food and Restaurant Association and documenting Culinary Olympics in her favourite country, Germany.

Following the above broadcasting and public persona roles, Lois took her penchant for commentating and travel to Wells Gray Tours, eventually helping it branch into international destinations. One of her final organizational feats was bringing a chapter of the Professional and Business (PROBUS) Society to Kamloops and instigating sub-arms like its Page Turners Book Club and Tea Connoisseurs, all of which continue to flourish today.

From her youth, Lois was very active in the United Church of Canada. She consistently served on United Church Women committees including starting the Prayer Shawl (knitting) Club in her home church of Kamloops United. She loved gardening, sewing, home decorating and sharing her cooking and entertainment talents (evenings always had a delightful theme!) with friends and family. Lois was grateful to vacation for 46 years at the beloved family cabin on Denman Island, BC and satisfying an insatiable “wanderlust.” Most importantly, Lois was happiest building family traditions that are practiced to this day.

Leslie and Laura wish to thank Lois’s plethora of career, volunteer, peer and treasured-friend contacts, as well as the staff of her final home, Kamloops Seniors Village and the Royal Inland Hospital 5 South Ward.

Lois’s Celebration of Life will take place April 8, 2023 at 2 pm at the Kamloops United Church, 421 St. Paul Street, Kamloops. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Research Society or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

 

RICHARD MARCROFT LATTA BLAIR

March 7, 1945 – December 21, 2022

We regret to announce the death of Richard Blair on December 21, 2022.

Richard was born to David and Vivienne Blair in Glasgow, Scotland, joining his only sibling Michael, on March 7, 1945. The family immigrated to Canada by ship in 1952. His first memory of Canada was the taste of fresh strawberries in Ottawa – a taste he never tired of.

The family settled in Vancouver where Richard attended Magee High School, where he played rugby (his knees never forgave him), became a Queen’s Scout, took up skydiving (over 100 jumps!) and followed his big brother into the journalism field as a copy boy. This evolved into his first career as a journalist at the Vancouver Sun.

He entered UBC in 1963 where he spent the majority of his time at The Ubyssey newspaper, rising to the rank of City Editor by the time he met Fearon in August 1965. He had barely scraped through his final year of a BA, thanks to working too many hours at that paper, when he and Fearon tied the knot. But for some reason he was admitted to law school – on the day after their wedding.

In spite of continuing to work two nights a week as a journalist he completed his law degree and articled with Clarke Wilson in Vancouver. The day after being admitted to the bar, they left to see the world, which they did in 19 months of travel, making many memories and friends along the way. They then settled in Kamloops, where Richard worked with Meikle Shupe Blair, then with Mair Jenson Blair, while managing to make time for hiking, skiing, cycling, canoeing, mountaineering, travelling, driving expensive, interesting and at times unpractical vehicles, as well as some back room involvement in provincial and federal politics. He also served on the Overlander Extended Care Hospital board as member and chair, and was involved in the establishment of the Kamloops Foundation, now known as the BC Interior Community Foundation.

In 1989 he joined the BC Randonner Club, a long distance non-competitive cycling club which led him to cycle around 6000 km per year for many years, including a number of 1200 km rides through the Rockies. In 1985 he and Fearon did another year long grand tour around the world, focusing on South America for the first 6 months, then cycling thousands of km in Europe, and stopping in various other countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific enroute home.

In 1992 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of BC, where he worked until retirement in 2013. He then became the first ‘judge in residence’, a voluntary position, at the TRU law school for 3 years.

Richard succumbed to dementia and spent the last 3 years of his life in the care of the wonderful staff at the Kamloops Seniors Village. He leaves behind his wife Fearon, brother Michael and his family, cousins and their families in Scotland, his in-laws and their extended families across Canada, many long time friends which is a reflection of his many interests and pursuits, and Itsy, the last of a long line of dogs. He was a good man who loved his family, served his community, enjoyed his chosen work, and lived his life to the fullest. He will be missed by many.

A celebration of Richard’s life will be held in the spring.

 

GEORGE EDWARD BROWN

November 23, 1924 – September 27, 2021

George Edward Brown passed away on September 27, 2021 at Overlander Extended Care with his son Dale at his side. He would have been 97 in November.

He was predeceased by his wife Winnifred, 3 babies, his parents, five brothers and sister. He is survived by his son Dale (Sandra), his seven grandchildren, seventeen great- grandchildren and one great great-grandchild, Chris (Miranda), Austin (Myra, Emery), Zachary, Natalie (Ruben), Presley, Rachael, Jude, Hannah, Henry, Seamus, Meredith, Philip (Jenna) Eli, Iver, Heather (Peter) Tristan, Everett, Marlena, Janessa, Dominic, Julie, Kimberly (Travis) Parker, Marissa.

George was born in Kamloops on November 23, 1924, served as a wireless telegrapher with the Navy 1942 – 1945 on the HMCS Transcona and HMCS Hespeler. Married Winnifred in Kamloops on June 3, 1950.

He and Winnifred ran a General Store in Kitwanga and George moved to various CNR locations where he was employed as Operator, Agent and Dispatcher, retiring in Kamloops as Dispatcher in 1985. They spent a good retirement in Kamloops, then eleven winters in Yuma, AZ. During their retirement many exciting trips in their camper van from Mexico to Yukon Territory, Manitoba and many spots out west as both enjoyed camping and fishing. He received his pilot’s licence at 55 and flew more than 500 hours with Winnifred.

He loved oil painting and loved teaching his grandchildren, and left many prints to be remembered by. He also tended his yard and garden with great care. At eighty years old he could be seen in the backyard building an ice rink for his grandchildren. He was so thankful to have Heather and Tristan stay with him after Winn passed.

He enjoyed family so much and seeing family even through the window constantly lifted his spirits after Covid lockdowns. His caring warmth, his humour, quick wit, his smile touched so many lives. Even his time at Overlander Extended Care allowed him to leave his fingerprints and heart with many of the caregivers.

His family is very grateful for the caring hearts at Overlander during extremely stressful times and boundaries that did not dissuade them from caring and thank you Dr. Howie.

George Edward Brown’s family needs to announce that due to unforeseen family circumstances the Memorial Service that was to be held at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Kamloops on November 4, 2021 @ 2:30pm needs to be postponed until further notice.

 

TERRANCE GEORGE PILE

January 8, 1960 – September 26, 2021

Terry passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on 26 September 2021 at Victoria, BC.

 

KATHERINE ELIZABETH McPARLAND

May 8, 1987 – December 5, 2020

 

WALTER WINTER

December 31, 1923 – July 4, 2020

After celebrating 96 birthdays, Walter Ernest Winter died peacefully on July 4, 2020, with his family near. His curiosity in others and the world, sense of fairness, integrity and graciousness will be remembered by all who knew, loved and respected him. 

Walter is survived by his four children Lorraine, Joyan (Dirk), Katrine and Sam (Gail); grandchildren Jade, Dane (Isabel), Cas (Mai), Heidi (Chad), Caitlyn, Dallas (Ryan) and Wayne; seven great grandchildren, lots of nieces & nephews and many close friends of the family.

He is predeceased by his loving wife Joan of 60 years, his brother Gordon, parents Harry and Edith, all his brothers-and-sisters in law, grandson Dillon and almost all of his long-time friends.

Walter was born in Ft. McLeod, Alberta on Dec. 31, 1923, but spent most of his childhood and teenage years growing up in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island where he went fishing, mastered yo-yo tricks, played tennis and spent inordinate amounts of time at the local pool hall. He attended UBC, won the university’s table tennis championship, hung out at the Cave with his pals, spent his summers surveying up BC’s coast and graduated with a degree in education.

Off to new adventures? Not just yet. He spent several unexciting years teaching in remote hamlets in Alberta before becoming principal for the grade 1-12 school in Hazelton, BC. His cabin beside the Skeena River soon became a hangout for other young bachelors. But while walking down the street one day, a friend introduced him to a pretty young public health nurse. She was new to town. When he turned back to take a second look, she was looking back at him . . .

Walter and Joan married in 1952 and greeted their first child, Lorraine, in 1953. After Hazelton, the family of three moved to Yellowknife where Walter served, via pontoon plane, as the superintendent of schools for the Western Arctic. During his tenure, he drew attention to the plight of Inuit children in the isolated Catholic/Anglican residential schools he was responsible for supervising. He wrote chilling reports to Ottawa about the injustices the children of the Western Arctic were experiencing.

A second daughter, Joyan, was welcomed in Yellowknife before the family of four moved to Fort Smith where Walter served as the K-12 principal of the school for several years. It was here their third daughter, Katrine, was born, delightfully completing the trio.

When Walter was hired in 1958 as principal of North Kamloops Junior-Senior Secondary in Kamloops, the family moved to the south central Interior of the province. Walter and Joan renovated an old chicken house in Brocklehurst to become the family home.

During his eight years as principal of the school — later to become known as NorKam Secondary — he was instrumental in removing corporal punishment from the school district’s code of acceptable practices and initiated other progressive changes within the school. He then became director of secondary instruction for the school district. The family enjoyed a romping good time in Brocklehurst and during this time, a baby boy, Sam, was welcomed into the fold.

Walter and Joan were always plotting, scheming and dreaming well into the night. On one such occasion, they decided to purchase a small, private lake near Little Fort, BC.  With a lot of resourcefulness and ingenuity, they developed a Kamloops rainbow trout hatchery. At Campbell Lake, they raised a young son and three teenage daughters in an old two-bedroom log house well off the grid, 25 miles away from the nearest high school. During this time Walter served as a TNRD director for several years and as chair of the TNRD for 13 more.

After 20 years of fun stories, trials and hard work at Campbell Lake, Walter and Joan sold the lake property and moved to Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast in their mid-60s. They worked at a salmon farm up the coast for a season before officially retiring. They later returned to Kamloops and lived in a beautiful riverfront home on Ridgeview Terrace before moving to Park Place where they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2012. Sadly, Joan died just three weeks later. Walter moved to Riverbend in Brocklehurst and later to a suite in a family home after more of his good friends had passed.

He lived the last few years of his life with family close by and his little dog Skip for companionship. Walter had many dogs throughout his life and loved them all.

Due to Covid, the family is not able to hold the warm-hearted service at St. Andrews on the Square they had imagined to honour this remarkable man.

Our gratitude to Dr. Paul Dickinson, home care assistants Jenn, Joy and Maggie and the staff at Kamloops Hospice House for making Walter’s last few weeks, and his children’s, the best they could possibly be.

Our heartfelt thanks to Drake Cremation Services for their compassion at this time. Condolences may be sent to the family at drakecremation.com.

 

CYNTHIA (Cindy) FRIEDMAN, PhD, FRSA

August 19, 1971 – December 24, 2018

Tragically and unexpectedly, Cindy died due to an aortic dissection on Christmas Eve morning while visiting her family in Penticton. She was 47 years old.

Mourning her are her husband, Tom, her stepsons, Nathan and Benjamin, her mother, Rose Anne Ross, her sister Kelly Ross, her brother-in-law Alex Lafreniere and her extended family in BC, Manitoba and Ontario. Cindy was predeceased by her father Paul.

Cindy was born in Winnipeg and educated at the University of Manitoba which awarded her a PhD in Biological Sciences in 2002.  She taught at U. of M. and then moved to Kamloops in 2004.  She and Tom married in 2007.

Her distinguished academic career included awards for teaching, research and service and many publications on Arceuthobium—dwarf mistletoe—including in the prestigious Nature Communications.  She twice appeared on CBC Radio’s Quirks & Quarkswith Bob McDonald to discuss her research.  Cindy was inducted into the inaugural cohort of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2014, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (U.K.) in 2016 in recognition of her commitment to social and environmental justice.

She appreciated the respect of her peers in the scientific community but was most proud of her role in mentoring and inspiring students.  Most recently, Cindy taught at the University of Alberta and Concordia University of Edmonton.

Cindy was an early opponent of the proposed Ajax mine and was instrumental in organizing community forums and rallying opposition to the mine through her work with the Kamloops Area Preservation Association.  She was an active member of the Kamloops & District Labour Council and the TRU Faculty Association and advocated tenaciously for workers’ rights.  Cindy strongly believed that scientists have a duty to effect change through public engagement, an undertaking she embraced fearlessly throughout her life.

Outside of her academic and community involvement, Cindy was an accomplished keyboardist and vocalist, performing both solo and with the Latin band Caliente.  Her interest in genetics early in her career led to a love of sphynx cats and she was a strong supporter of the SPCA.

Our world is significantly diminished by her death.

A celebration of Cindy’s life will be held on Saturday, January 12^that 2 pm at the Kamloops United Church, 421 St. Paul Street.

 

ANGELO IACOBUCCI

December 31, 1957 – December 14, 2018

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Angelo “Bootch” Iacobucci.

Angelo is survived by his loving wife Silvana, of 34 years, his cat Scout and his brother-in-law Tony (“Stan” to Angelo) DeBartolo.

He also leaves behind one brother Mario (Deanne) Iacobucci and his twin nieces Daniella and Marissa and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Angelo will be greatly missed by his many, many friends he crossed paths with, all who met and dealt with him in his 39 years of broadcasting and investigative journalism and mostly by his Radio NL family!

No service request.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Kamloops SPCA or charity of your choice in Angelo’s name.

 

PAUL JONES

March 2, 1921 – December 12, 2018

 ‘I contemplate the short years

From atop a pillar of time.

From that vantage,

The future holds no threat.’

— Paul Jones

Artist, author, golfer and gardener Paul Jones left us on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 after a brief illness, as he held the hand of his daughter Sydney. He was only 97.

Paul will be lovingly remembered by his son Stephen (Leslie), grandson Ryan (Destin) and great-granddaughter Marlowe, granddaughter Dayna (Rob), daughter Sydney (Mel) and grandson Jacob, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Every single year of Paul’s distinguished life was filled with adventure and achievement. As described in his book Pembina Country, he grew up poorest of poor in the poorest of times.

After the family farm went bust and was auctioned off, he moved with his parents and siblings from rural Alberta to B.C., where he got his first paying job at Ocean Falls. That was interrupted by the second world war and three years in the navy but he returned there until 1949, when he began working with B.C. Power Commission at a small hydro plant on the Barriere River in the Upper Louis Creek Valley.

There he met a young school teacher named Doreen Kozub. She must have been impressed because when Paul transferred to Needles on Lower Arrow Lake, Doreen took a teaching job at nearby Fauquier. They were married in Vernon on Christmas Eve in 1951.

On August 11, 1953 Paul was on the graveyard shift at the Whatshan power house when a huge rock slide destroyed the plant. Paul barely escaped.

During these years, Paul took up an interest in painting, a talent he would hone over the rest of his life. He also got involved in amateur theatre after he and Doreen moved to Vernon with son Stephen and daughter Sydney.

Following the creation of BC Hydro, Paul travelled to the far reaches of the province as a radio technician but he had time to join the Community Concert Association.

With a move to a new home above Kin Beach in 1970 came a new interest — wines and wine making. He planted a vineyard and, as Paul put it, “made wine, much wine. Drank same.” He also taught a winemaking class at Okanagan University College.

His interest in painting became what he called “serious,” and he studied with Vernon artist Holly Middleton and at the Banff Centre for the arts. His work was exhibited throughout the Okanagan. A collection of his paintings is in the permanent collection of the Vernon Art Gallery.

Paul retired from BC Hydro in 1983, allowing him time to serve as president of the Vernon Art Gallery board and as preparator for many shows and for the B.C. Festival of the Performing Arts. Later, he became a director and vice president of the Performing Arts Society, and would become a driving force in the successful campaign to build the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

Paul also began writing, publishing his first book in 1998 at the age of 77, and soon publishing a second. His writing reflected a rare talent that can’t be taught, wonderfully descriptive and tinged with humour.

He was athletic, too, among his favourite sports and activities being tennis, scuba diving, sailing (he built and sailed two boats), hiking, cycling and downhill and cross-country skiing. He became an official and coach for cross-country ski racing.

At 78, he took up golf and spent the rest of his life perfecting his game. In his “spare time,” he was an avid gardener and landscaper. Paul and Doreen travelled extensively in Canada and Europe. After Doreen passed away in 2015, Paul moved to Canterbury Court.

Until his recent brief illness, he regularly worked out in the gym.

The life of Paul Jones was one of kindness, generosity and accomplishment far beyond the ordinary. It was a full life, continuing unabated to its very end.

A suitable event celebrating the life of Paul Jones will be held at a later date. Condolences may be offered at http://www.vernonfuneralhome.com.

 

RODERICK KENT DUNCAN

March 31, 1951 – November 3, 2018

We lost our larger-than-life father, brother and friend on November 3, 2018.

Roderick Kent Duncan was born on March 31, 1951, almost an April’s fool, he used to joke. He died suddenly, leaving us all shocked and saddened by the loss of this passionate, colourful, opinionated individual.

Rod is survived by his son Shea, his sisters Shelley (Jim) and Tracey (Rob), and his brother Jeff (Val). He was also dearly loved by his partner Maria, his ex-wife Susan and her daughters Alex and Olivia to whom he was a second dad. His long-time friends Ken (Dorian) Smedley and Alexander Watt will also miss their pal.

He was predeceased by Sharon “Comfy” Duncan, who enriched his life immeasurably after their marriage in 1991 until her death in 2004. He never quite recovered from the void she left in his world.

He was also predeceased by his father Clarence “Dunc” Duncan and his mother Vivian Duncan Davison. He was an awesome son to his mother after both Dunc and then her second husband Henry died unexpectedly. He was there for her in every crisis and was also her great friend.

As well, Rod is missed by many nieces, nephews and a myriad of friends. Making and losing friends and then making more friends was a constant throughout Rod’s vibrant life. He lived large and he loved to engage loudly in political debate, often to the chagrin of others.

If you wish to honour Rod, boycott Trump by avoiding a trip into the United States. Now that would make him happy.

Rod loved to philosophize, sing, play guitar, and write, but he also had an amazing grasp of numbers and science. He was a brilliant guy. He loved Macintosh computers and had no patience with anyone who preferred PCs. He spent many hours finding the best deals when friends and family were in the market for a computer. He also loaded the software and persisted in teaching even the least technical of us. This was not fun for him, but he never gave up trying.

He was incredibly generous and happiest when he was giving someone a gift. He hated capitalism, but never quit buying.

In recent years, Rod greatly enjoyed his RV oasis on Kamloops Lake in the summers and then in the winters, heading off with Maria for travelling adventures.

The family would like to thank Craig Arduini who diligently performed CPR after finding Rod unresponsive on the roadside. Thanks as well to the emergency personnel who endured the pouring rain as they worked to save Rod’s life.

A Memorial Service took place on November 17, 2018 at Schoening Funeral Service, 514 Seymour St., Kamloops.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

 

AL (ARCHIBALD) D. KEMP

April 2, 1935 – August 2, 2018

With great sadness the family of Al Kemp announce his peaceful passing at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice in Kamloops after a short battle with cancer.

He is predeceased by his loving wife, Pat Kemp in 2012. Survived by his 3 daughters, Terri, Tracey (Mark) and Shelley (Andy). Grandchildren Braedy (Noelle), Kara (Darnell), Tasia (Rob) and Nick – as well as 5 great grandchildren.

Al arrived in Logan Lake in 1972 after spending time in England, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. He worked at Lornex/Highland Valley Copper as a Machinist for 25 years and spent many of those years as the President of Steel Workers Union 7619.

Al was elected as a Councillor at the District of Logan Lake in 1985. His commitment to the community led to 9 years as a Councillor and 12 years as the Mayor of Logan Lake. In addition to serving on the Logan Lake Council, he was appointed the Director of the Okanagan Mainline Association for 9 years and Director of the Thompson Nicola Regional District for 12 years. In January of 2013 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his outstanding achievements in public service.

Al and his family created many memories while camping, fishing and golfing on our numerous road trips to explore the province.

The family would like to send immense gratitude to just a few of the many people who supported Al in his final months; Dr. Saeed and team at the Logan Lake Health Centre, His personal angels – Theo & Ayla, Drake Smith at Drake Cremation and Funeral Services and the Staff and Volunteers at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice. Thank you also to the community of Logan Lake for the love and support during this difficult time.

A celebration of Al’s life will be held on Saturday, August 11th from 1:00 p.m. – 4 p.m. (eulogy and tributes to Al at 2:00 p.m.) at the Logan Lake Recreation Centre. In lieu of flowers, should you desire, donations can be made in Al’s memory at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice House.

Condolences may be sent to the family at DrakeCremation.com.

 

EDWARD GEORGE JOSLIN

May 15, 1920 – June 24, 2018

Ted died peacefully in the company of family on June 24th, 2018 at the age of 98. Born in London, England to George Alfred and Violet Beatrice Joslin on May 15th, 1920, Ted was predeceased by his sister Mollie.

He is survived by his former wife and friend Patricia (Sally) Tupholme and their four children, Dominic (Mary) of Southport, Australia, Simon (Dalyce) of Victoria, BC, Jolyon and Nicolette Eadie (Vic Hamm) both of Kamloops, BC, together with their respective children and grandchildren: Noel, Jessica, Joel, Dustin, Simon, Marianna, Gabrielle, Katherine, Jakob, Madison, Joe and Edward.

Ted grew up in London, England where he left school at age 15 to join his father’s estate and property management firm as, in his words, “a stamp licking errand runner at a pittance wage.” He quickly earned a Certificate of Membership in the Auctioneers and Estate Agent’s Institute laying the foundation for his future real estate career in Canada.

Serving with the British forces in WWII, initially with the Royal Armoured (tank) Corps and later with the Allied forces in Egypt negotiating and securing use of lands and buildings for the war effort, Ted returned to London from his final posting in the Suez to once again take up civilian life. In 1948, he met and married Sally with whom he celebrated the birth of four children in the short span of 5 years, purchased and struggled to salvage a rundown hotel in London’s post-war economy, and ultimately made the courageous and fortuitous decision to emigrate to Canada in search of adventure and a better life.

The family arrived by boat in Montreal in 1956 and immediately boarded a train for Vancouver, BC. After a brief stay in the lower mainland, Ted found steady employment in Kamloops, first as the Deputy City Assessor and then as City Assessor. Always a risk taker, Ted soon found himself yearning to be his own boss and left municipal employment to start up Wescan (Real Estate) Appraisals. He later partnered with business colleagues to start up Dome Developments Ltd. His final business venture was Project Development Services.

Ted worked into his early 80’s before becoming a reluctant retiree. Ted invariably treated life as a grand adventure. Whether purchasing and moving onto a rustic old ranch on Barnhartvale Road, fly fishing for rainbow trout on local lakes or participating in the now defunct annual Clearwater to Kamloops Overlander Raft Race, Ted was nothing if not endlessly enthusiastic. Over the years, he was an active member in a variety of organizations including Rotary International, the Kamloops Players, the Appraisal Institute of Canada, the Kamloops Tennis Club, the Interior Authors’ Group and more recently the Thompson Valley Community Orchestral Society.

Ted had an abiding passion for politics and was an early supporter of Preston Manning’s Reform Party. If you wanted to know his politics, you only had to follow his many letters to the editor in both local and national newspapers. Ted expressed his artistic side in numerous ways. He created a lovely garden of roses and whimsy, and enjoyed watercolour and oil painting.

After retirement, he wrote and self-published a memoir, a novel, a children’s story and a book of poetry. Ted also took great pleasure in golf, his “cottage” on Arbutus Street, the friendship of a loyal group of bridge players, and a renewal of his faith through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Throughout his life, Ted was ever the restless soul, always searching. Whether or not his move from staid old England to Canada satisfied his quest or fulfilled his inner hunger, only Ted would know. What is certain, however, is that his leap of faith in uprooting his young family and moving to Canada afforded his four children an immensely rich life changing opportunity.

Ted’s willingness to brace the unknown is a gift for which his family will forever be grateful. An oft’ heard refrain from those who met him was, “Ted is ever so charming.” And indeed he relished the opportunity to engage others during his every adventure, be it a creative endeavor or a calamity.

Sometimes it was hard to keep up as he lived by the motto ‘out with the old and in with the new’ but, regardless of his choices, he always embraced life with unbounded optimism and enthusiasm. Above all, Ted lived his life according to his own agenda, sometimes for the better and occasionally not so much, but always on his own terms. Ted’s family thank the staff and residents of Kamloops Seniors’ Village for welcoming Ted into their community in his years, and Dr. Harold Stefanyk and the Village staff for the outstanding care Ted received at the end of his life.

A Celebration of Ted’s life will be held on Saturday, July 7th, 2018 at 1:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2165 Parkcrest Ave, Kamloops. Family and friends are welcome.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com.

 

JOHN SKELLY

December 21, 1928 – June 8, 2018

We are very sad to announce the passing of our Dad, John Skelly. He died peacefully on June 8, 2018 at Marjorie Willoughby Snowden hospice at the age of 89.

Predeceased by parents Jim and Eva, brothers Frank and Pat, sister Irene Wilson, daughter Marilynne, and wives Jeanne and Ann. He is survived by his children Jim (Lynn), Matt (Alison Slater) and Nevada (Jack Mendes) along with his grandchildren Christina, Jennifer, Julieanne, James, Brandyn, Taylor, Kianna, step-grandchildren Christopher Mendes and Alexander Mendes, and great grandsons Morgan, Ryker and Jackson.

Born in Calgary on December 21, 1928, John moved with his parents Jim and Eva to Kamloops in 1939, on a parcel of property known as Jimeva Farms, now called Orchard’s Walk. John attended Kamloops High and spent a few years in the family business of farming with the Skelly Tomato Cannery before embarking in 1952 on a long radio broadcasting career. Ownership and management positions in radio stations took John and his family to Edmonton, Peace River, Fort St. John and Kamloops.

John was the founder of Radio NL and served as President and GM from 1970 to 1982.

John had his own radio show called Sunday Showcase which allowed him to indulge in his love of jazz, swing and big band music and play homage to his god, Frank Sinatra.

Before retirement in the late 90’s, John spent 8 years in real estate sales and served as an Alderman on the Kamloops City Council from 1984 to 1988. While on council, John was very proud to be an integral part of bringing Sunday shopping to Kamloops.

John loved to fly and earned his private pilot`s license at a young age. One of his great pleasures was taking family and friends up in the air and flying to the Abbotsford Airshow for the day. Another one of John`s passions was boating on Shuswap Lake and showing his family the joys of life on the Shuswap.

The family would like to thank the health care professionals at RIH for their care of Dad and Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice for their exceptional care and emotional support during our Dad`s last days.

Donations in John’s memory can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice or to Diabetes Canada.

And now, the end is near

And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain

I’ve lived a life that’s full I traveled each and every highway

And more, much more than this

I did it my way

A celebration of John’s life will be held on:

Friday, June 22, 2018 @ 2PM

The Coast Hotel & Conference Centre

1250 Rogers Way, Kamloops

Condolences may be sent to the family at DrakeCremation.com.

 

EDYN CATE BELLA ROTHENBURGER

April 24, 1979 – March 7, 2018

In the early morning hours of March 7, 2018, our daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter and friend Edyn left us, anxious to join her son Mykel.

Edyn was kind, compassionate, fun-loving. She was a friend to animals and a dire enemy of garden slugs and aphids.

She loved to laugh. It came out in a low, slow rumble, like a pickup truck trying to start on a low battery.

One of the things her brothers and sisters remember most about her was her refusal to back down, whether in defense of clients of the Y women’s shelter where she worked, or of Mykel as he made his way through life. Another phrase that comes to mind is, “finding a way.”

She was adventurous, too, not hesitating to climb up a 60-ft. mast on a sailboat, jump off a high rock cliff into the ocean, or sky dive just to see what it was like.

Born in Kamloops, Edyn attended R.L. Clemitson elementary school in Barnhartvale, graduating from Kamloops secondary school in 1997. After a year in Winnipeg, she returned home to obtain certification at the University College of the Cariboo (now Thompson Rivers University) as a human services worker.

For the past 10 years she worked as staff resources coordinator at the Y women’s shelter.

Life wasn’t always kind to Edyn. She struggled at times in her earlier years, and in later years suffered from ill health.

But pure joy arrived on Oct. 4, 2000 in the form of Mykel Leslie Fritz Frank-Rothenburger. Never has there been a stronger bond between a parent and child, maybe in part because Mykel wasn’t even a year old when it became just the two of them at home.

They often reassured each other that it was “Mum and Bub” against the world.

But let’s back up a bit. As a little kid, ‘Boo’ (a nickname that stuck with her throughout life) fell head over heels in love with an older man — her grandfather, Les Alaric — during frequent visits to Les and Kay’s home in Oliver, sometimes spending part of summer vacation with them. Les died when she was five, but she stayed in touch by going outside and talking to him as she gazed up at the stars.

During her school years, Edyn played soccer and took part in the Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts. At 16, she fell in love again. This time it was with Bradley, a six-year-old Quarter Horse-Tennessee Walker cross with attitude. Edyn and Bradley drifted apart over the years, but they were happily re-united this past Christmas.

In recent years, Edyn loved more sedate past-times such as camping trips with extended family, sailing, crafting, reading, celebrating Christmas, gardening (that’s where the slugs and aphids come in), painting, watching The Walking Dead with Mykel, eating “Raspberry 4 Lucie” crêpes at Cora restaurant, searching for sand dollars, and taking a 10-lb. package of canine dynamite named Willy for walks.

Not to mention Monday night TV dance shows and a 24-hour online auction where she recently sold a pair of worse-for-wear running shoes for more than the asking price.

Most of all, though, she loved family. Loved being with them and loved seeing them together. She and Mykel loved family camping trips and vacations on Jon and Rene’s sailboat. She and her ‘Daddio’ Mel volunteered together during last summer’s wildfires, caring for evacuated horses.

Her relationship with her brothers and sisters operated under strict laws of nature: every storm will pass; love and forgiveness must always prevail.

And she was a good aunt.

Edyn served on the board of the Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society and as a server at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where she was baptized last November.

After Mykel took his own life March 31, 2017, at just 16, we tried very, very hard to hold onto her, but he was waiting for her to come home.

Missing her are her mom Irene (Jon) Buckle, dad Mel (Sydney) Rothenburger, sisters Sunnie (Mark), Kelly (Graham), and Aija (Danny), brothers Ryan (Carman), Jacob, and Matthew (Elise), grandmother Kay Alaric, nieces Jordan (Jeremy), Amy, Marcella, Deina, Harper, Leila, Kaitlyn and Nora, nephews Kyle, Coby, Carter, Del, Tai, Robert, Lucas and Ben, great nieces Paetyn and Oakley, great nephew Greyson, Mykel’s cat Leo, Edyn’s dog Willy, and her horse Bradley.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mykel Frank-Rothenburger Bursary, c/o the B.C. Interior Community Foundation, would be gratefully accepted.

A celebration of Edyn’s life will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 14 in St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, 360 Nicola St., Kamloops.

“Mumpus loves, loves, LOVES her Bumpus!”

 

SHIRLEY DIANE McCAFFREY (née CLARK)

 

MARGARET LOUISE SPINA

November 17, 1951 – December 15, 2017

Margaret Spina, age 66, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2017 surrounded by the love and comfort of her dear family.

Born to Andy and Dorothy Carswell on November 17,1951 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Devoted wife and friend to Ross for 39 years. Mother of three loving children Peter (Joanne), Christina (Riley) and Vincent. Proud Grandmother and Nanna to Andrew, Alex and Emily.

She is survived by her parents Andy and Dorothy , her brothers Jim (Marika), John (Kim) and Tim and one sister Anne (Ian). Ross’s sisters Maria (Joe) and Fran (Dave) and her loving and supportive mother-in-law Fortunata.

Marg will always be remembered by her nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and friends.

Marg was an exceptional and gifted human being. She was a remarkable inspiration to her family and the many people she influenced at so many different levels.

Her legacy to her family, friends and community she loved is profound and will last with us forever.

The family wishes to thank the community and many friends for the tributes, kind and comforting words and great food that was dropped off at Ross and Marg’s home.

We would also like to thank the many nurses and doctors from Kamloops and Kelowna who were there for Marg throughout her difficult, one year journey with cancer. In particular Dr. Bosman, Dr. Proctor, Dr. Brownlee and Dr. Leia-Steven. The staff and volunteers at the Rotary Lodge in Kelowna and Kamloops Hospice also deserve our heartfelt appreciation.

A Public Memorial Service to pay tribute to Marg will be held on January 20, 2018. The time and location of the service will be announced once an appropriate venue is booked.

Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, please donate to Kamloops Hospice or to BC. Interior Community Foundation, specifying your donation to the Marg Spina Community Enhancement Fund.

One of Marg’s favorite quotes by Haruki Murakami:
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

On-line condolences may be expressed at http://www.schoeningfuneralservice.com

 

CHRISTOPHER WAYNE SEGUIN

1977-2017

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Christopher Wayne Séguin on September 22, 2017.  Christopher was born October 20, 1977 in Pinawa, Manitoba.  Christopher is survived by his wife Melissa, sons Logan and Harrison, parents Deb & Joe, sister Jennifer, father Patrick and his wife Shirley, many uncles, aunts and cousins.

Chris spent his early years in Lac du Bonnet Manitoba, where he arrived as the youngest member to a fairly large extended family.  His love for travel began with trips in his rumble seat on the back of his father’s bicycle while visiting with friends and family.  Most of all he loved the farm. This would usually include a tractor ride or a spin on the dirt bike with Uncles Mark or Bruce.

Being of a mining family he moved to BC at an early age and soon became acquainted with many of BC’s mining communities.  He began his pre-schooling in Granisle BC, elementary in Chetwynd, Greenwood and Kamloops to finish up his secondary education as a “Golden K” recipient of Kamloops Senior Secondary.

Christopher was very active in athletics and enjoyed basketball, rugby and football.  His academic standing and football carried him over to Simon Fraser University (SFU) with a scholarship to play for the university’s varsity team, the Clan.  He graduated with a BA (Honours) in linguistics and made the Dean’s list for his work related to the Fijian Culture.

At an early age in life Christopher set his sights on world travel.  While a student at SFU he made several trips to Fiji, with his linguistics professor and students, to document the Fijian language.  He found himself in Prague in following years learning about the Czech language.  Other trips included Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Australia, China, and Central America to name a few.  His travels gave him an appreciation of this world’s cultural diversity, the values of others and the strength gained by embracing the diversity of people.  From this he learned what is truly important in life which was giving back to his community.

Christopher began his career with SFU as cultural liaison in the International Education department.  Over the next twelve years, he established his expertise in a number of development positions at SFU, including statistician, development officer, and account manager.  In July 2007 Christopher made the move back to his home town as Vice-President Advancement at Thompson Rivers University (TRU).  Under his leadership, TRU set new fundraising records virtually every year of the last decade, generating millions of dollars for student awards, groundbreaking research and major buildings, notably the House of Learning, the renovation of Old Main for the Law Faculty, the Trades and Technology building and the soon to be constructed Nursing and Population Health building.

Christopher’s energies and passions went beyond the university with participation and support for the Kamloops community at large.  Maintaining his athletic nature, Christopher completed various triathlons, 5-10 km runs for a cause and awareness, and his first Ironman competition in 2011 while continuing to put his energies into community involvement.  Through his contributions in Rotary, Developing World Connections, TRUly United, the Kamloops Marathon and the North Kamloops Family Dinner, to name a few, he gave back to Kamloops with the many initiatives he championed and internationally with his climb of Kilimanjaro to raise funds for a school project in Sierra Leone for example.  Christopher’s accomplishments as a community change maker were recognized in 2015, when he received the BC Community Achievement award.

Christopher was a very passionate bigger than life guy, a giving man with a huge heart, a wide smile and big laugh.  We choose to remember Christopher for who he was, husband, father, brother, son, champion for causes, a passionate community leader and an accomplished VP of TRU who gave so much so others may succeed.

We welcome you to attend his Celebration of Life which will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at the Calvary Temple, 1205 Rogers Way, at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, honoring Christopher and his memory would be best expressed by donating to a trust fund for his children through any Kamloops CIBC branch.

 

JOHN LARRY DORMER

May 6, 1944 – April 14, 2017

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of John L. Dormer, a lover husband, father and grandfather. Known for his infectious smile and boundless energy, John passed away on April 14, 2017, at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops surrounded by family and holding the hand of Marjorie, his loving wife of 48 years, after suffering a stroke earlier in the day.

Born in Arcola, Sask. on May 6, 1944, John was raised in Pincher Creek, Alta. by his adoptive parents Wellington and Maxine Dormer. He moved to Calgary as a teenager where he joined the Royal Canadian Navy. Following training near Halifax, N.S., John met his wife Marjorie while stationed at CFB Esquimalt, near Victoria, in 1966. They were married in 1968 and were together for 48 years, having four children John Jr., Stephen (deceased), David and Julie, along with one grandchild, Emily. He is also survived by his two sisters as well as numerous nieces and nephews and a large, extended family in Saskatchewan.

After completing his service in the navy, including a posting at NRS Aldergrove, John worked for BC Tel (Telus) as a warehouse supervisor in New Westminster, Prince George, Dawson Creek and Cranbrook, before coming to Kamloops in 1979, where he worked in public relations. He transitioned to the British Columbia Lottery Corporation for a short time and in 1986, John was elected mayor of Kamloops, serving one term.

His time as mayor will be remembered for a successful referendum to construct Riverside Coliseum (now Sandman Centre), helping solidify Kamloops as a provincial and national sporting hub. He also served as director of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District as well as on the executives of the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. In 1988, John went to work for himself, creating his own businesses, first Dormer Consulting, focusing on business development, then Pacific Bentonite, a mining operation near Hat Creek. He was also vice-president of the Kamloops Exploration Group and served as president of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce for a time.

John believed strongly in volunteerism and giving back to the community, serving on a number of boards and advisory committees and was a longtime member of the K-40 (Kinsmen) service club. He also continued his involvement in politics through the B.C. Liberal Party and served as campaign manager for Kevin Krueger’s successful run in the 2009 provincial election. He was also a longtime regional director for the party, travelling to Vancouver monthly for meetings.

Family meant everything to John and being a father and grandfather was something he truly cherished. His final morning was a happy one, spent making breakfast and smiling with his granddaughter, Emily.

Outside work (John didn’t have spare time as he didn’t consider time to be spare), John was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hiking, hunting and camping. He also loved animals, Harley the dog being one of his favourites. He was an exceptional, one-of-a-kind person who was loved dearly and will be missed.

A public Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre in Kamloops. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home, an organization he supported strongly.

 

GARY MARINO CANDIDO

July 1, 1937 – April 1, 2017

Gary passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on a beautiful sunny day in Palm Springs, California, from complications of a stroke. Gary will be loved and forever missed by his wife, Edna, Son Delano, Daughter-in-law Dawn and Granddaughter Paige. His memory will also be cherished by his brothers Carman (Linda) and Ken, Sister-in-law Hazel MacDonald and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Gary was predeceased by his son Cory, Brother Vern MacDonald, Sister-in-law Ruby Candido and his Parents, Len and Fran.

Gary was born in Merritt and raised in Kamloops. Sports were an integral part of his life. As a young man Gary played hockey in Grimshaw Alberta and Williams Lake where he won his most treasured trophy, his wife Edna. Together they shared 58 years and were truly partners in life.

Gary was an avid curler enjoying many happy times and triumphs at the Kamloops Curling Club. Summers were spent on the golf course. Gary started golfing at the Kamloops Golf Course and was a life-long member of Rivershore Golf Club. Gary and Edna spent the last 20 years wintering in Palm Springs enjoying year round golfing. Gary’s sporting accomplishments also included softball spending many hours on the baseball diamonds of Riverside Park.

Gary spent many years in the automotive industry. He was a partner at Dearborn Motors before realizing his dream as the owner of Kamloops Ford Lincoln.

Above all Gary was a man of honesty and integrity. He was a devoted husband and father and a most beloved Papa to Paige. Gary was a true friend with many life-long friends. Throughout the years Gary would treat his friends to steelhead fishing excursions on the Dean River.

Prayers will be held in the Schoening Funeral Chapel on Monday, April 17th at 6:00 pm. Following Gary’s wishes a private entombment will take place in the Evergreen Mausoleum on Tuesday, April 18th.
In lieu of flowers donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the BC Cancer Agency would be greatly appreciated. A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at a later date to be announced.

 

MYKEL LESLIE FRITZ FRANK-ROTHENBURGER

October 4, 2000 – March 31, 2017

Mykel Frank-Rothenburger began life with a passion that never let up. When he was three years old, he picked up his first medical book. It was a sign that this was a kid who was going to be above the ordinary.

He was shy, funny, kind, artistic in his own way and intensely inquisitive. He was, as his mom Edyn calls him, “the most beautiful soul this world had to offer.”

And, as an early friend describes him, “a little weird, a little wacky and so full of love, that’s what made Mykel, Mykel.”

Edyn and Mykel would agree that he provided some challenging moments. “One of his greatest skills was testing the limits of his mother,” Edyn says, smiling as she remembers the joy of him.

As Mykel grew up, his interests were, to say the least, diverse. He loved trying new things. At five, he took up karate, a sport he remained devoted to his entire life, earning a third-degree black belt.

At Beattie School of the Arts, he began playing the alto saxophone, and kept at it. He even composed his own songs. And while it’s unlikely he was going to win a Juno or an Oscar (he “accidentally” got into drama in school), he liked to sing and act.

And from an early age he loved the water, whether it be in the pool or, for the past several years, on the sailboat owned by his ‘Nan’ Irene and ‘Pop’ Jon Buckle.

Oh, yeah, and there was snowboarding, and Rubik’s cubes, and video games and, of course, he knew much more about how computers work than most software developers and technicians. Seemed like it, anyway. By Grade 6 he was carting his laptop to school with him.

After Beattie, he attended Sa-Hali secondary, SKSS and the KOOL School. His shyness began to fade and self-confidence took root.

Mykel liked his hot chocolate with whole milk, not pre-mixed; he enjoyed posting funny videos, quoting random facts, almost anything to do with science, working with hand tools, researching his family history, spending time with his girlfriend Jasmine, hanging out with friends and volunteering at the SPCA. He grew his hair a foot long to donate to the Wigs for Kids program for kids with cancer. That’s the kind of guy he was.

One day last October, right after his 16^th birthday, he proudly stuck his ‘L’ on his Nan’s car and began working towards his driver’s license. He was already looking forward to getting his own car and souping it up. “Watch out people of Kamloops!” he posted on Facebook.

As for those medical books, well, he decided early on he’d become a doctor, later adjusting that ambition to becoming a medical researcher.

We lost Mykel last Friday. We lost the complicated joy he brought to his friends, his family and most of all his loving mother Edyn Rothenburger.

His mom is joined by dad Mike Frank, gramma Laurie Frank, Aunt Beth, ‘Nan’ Irene (and Jon ‘Pop’) Buckle, grand-dad Mel (Syd) Rothenburger, great-grandma Kay Alaric, aunts Sunnie, Kelly and Aija, uncles Ryan, Jacob and Matthew and lots of cousins, his cat Leo and girlfriend ‘Little Egg’ Jasmine Bidwell in mourning him and missing him.

A service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 7 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 360 Nicola St., Kamloops. In lieu of flowers, donations to the SPCA would be much appreciated. A scholarship will be established in Mykel’s name to benefit children with ADHD and mental health challenges.

 

IDA E. DEKELVER (ARNOLD)

September 30, 1923 – March 7, 2017 (93 years old)

After spending 4-1/2 months in hospital, Ida passed away peacefully with a long-time family friend and hospice volunteer, Ella Greffard by her side in Forest View Place, Clearwater, B.C. Ida was an inspirational, courageous role model for everyone who met her. She leaves a huge void in all our hearts. RIP, Ida.

Ida Dekelver is survived by her sons, Carl (Diane), Joseph (Diane) Richard (Cathy) all from Clearwater, and daughter, Tina (Laurie) Brewer from Mcleese Lake, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Emil Dekelver in 1996, daughter Diane Leighton, and her son, Justin Frye in 1989, son George Dekelver in 2008, granddaughter Courtney, and husband Sky Buck, and Baby Buck in 2012, and brothers Steve and Bud Arnold.

Ida and Emil were married on Oct. 14, 1944 in Kuroki, Saskatchewan. Ida and Emil had four sons and two daughters. The family grew big vegetable gardens on the home property and provided vegetables for sale at Pratt’s General Store (near the old Thompson River Bridge) and Greenwood’s General Store (at the bottom of Stegg’s Hill).

During the summer, Ida was a shepherd on the Trophy Mountain with their herd of sheep; in the winter she trapped, often with her son, George. In the 1960’s, Ida worked for Mac and Cecile McDiarmid at their Royalite/Gulf Service Station, where Jim’s Market is now, and in later years, became care-givers to her long-time friends. Ida and Mac enjoyed berry picking which Ida turned into wonderful preserves, as well as collecting wild mushrooms.

In 1967, Ida, and her two donkeys, Jack and Bill, followed the route of the Overlanders to her home town in Wadena, Saskatchewan. The trip took 40 days, and covered 1,000 miles. She camped by the roadside, and in the evenings she would show home movies of the Clearwater area and the Trophy Mountains to interested visitors. This, perhaps, was the start of her serious interest in preserving the history of the North Thompson Valley, and her never ending quest to preserve nature for future generations.

Mrs. Dekelver volunteered countless hours in School District 26 classrooms, teaching the children about their local heritage. The children learned how the pioneers lived, from making soap, preserving hides, raising crops, picking wild berries, making bread, churning butter, building shelters, to how volcanoes shaped the landscape. She helped the children with their heritage displays. The children always loved when Mrs. D came to visit. Ida often had displays at the local library, She worked hard to preserve the history of the local First Nations Heritage by documenting local sites through the B.C. Archaeology Society, and she and Mac found, documented and photographed one undiscovered site on Adams Lake.

Ida tirelessly campaigned to have the Trophy Mountain included in Wells Gray Park to preserve and protect it. She also protested the damming of the Clearwater River for hydro electricity. For many years Ida was a step-on tour guide on buses for different tour companies. The tourists always enjoyed and appreciated her knowledge of the area. For many years Ida had a museum on her property. It drew hundreds of visitors each year. It was filled with old pictures, maps, equipment, traps, and articles of interest, She and daughter, Diane, spent countless hours on back roads, locating historical places such as the Japanese Tea House near Blue River.

Ida was quite small in stature, but big and strong in character!, whether logging, farming, shepherding, being alone on the trap line, taking snow measurements or. . . in one case, delivering her own baby, by herself (while her other babies were sleeping! Her biggest fear was them waking up!) in September, 1961 giving birth to her youngest daughter, Tina without a phone, hydro, or vehicle and her husband was away!

She was also artistic! She created charming pictures from nature – cones, birch bark, moss, pebbles etc. She also had a poet’s ear for words, and her cards and notes would often have a poetic line. Ida was a very busy lady with all her interests. In between times, she was a member of the Women’s Institute, Chamber of Commerce, B.C. Naturalists, B.C. Archeology Society, Friends of Wells Grey and many more. She also took courses on Museums in Victoria too.

Celebration of Life will be held on:

April 15, 2017 at Clearwater ski hill, 566 Dunn Lake Road, Clearwater, BC. @ 1:00 PM

Refreshments will be available but potluck finger food is also appreciated.

Get your thinking caps on and maybe get up and share some of your special memories.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to

Dr Helmcken Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
640 park Drive, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N1

In Memory of Ida Dekelver for a Portable Suction Machine for Forest View Place.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Drake Cremation and Funeral Services –Clearwater, B.C.

 

RICHARD ALLEN WAGAMESE (1955-2017)

Richard Allen Wagamese of Kamloops, B.C., passed away on March 10, 2017 at 61 years of age.

Richard is survived by his loving life partner Yvette, his sons Jason (Jeneen) and Joshua, his ten grandchildren Dustyn, Jordan, Dee, Zoey, Koda, Chase, Erik, Montana, Torrie and Wyatt, his brother Charles (Lori) and many nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and legions of readers.

Richard is predeceased by his father Stanley, mother Marjorie, brother Jack, sister Jane, niece Jackie, as well as his spiritual father Jack Kakakaway.

Richard was an Ojibway from the Wabaseemoong First Nation in Northwestern Ontario. Richard’s traditional clan was the Sturgeon clan and his name was Buffalo Cloud. He was an inspiring storyteller, an award-winning writer, an accomplished broadcaster, reporter and journalist. Through his writing, many Canadians gained an awareness of the experience of First Nations people and the intergenerational legacy of residential schools.

Richard will be honoured in private ceremonies. A public Celebration of his Life will be held at the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc powwow grounds on Saturday, March 25 at 11:00 am. Those unable to attend are encouraged to honour and celebrate his life as he would – by having living room gatherings where close friends come together.

We would like to thank the many friends and family members who have offered support and love at this difficult time.

In lieu of cards or flowers, donations can be made to your local homelessness shelter or children’s education program.

“We are story. All of us. What comes to matter then is the creation of the best possible story we can while we’re here; you, me, us, together.” – Richard Wagamese