A26 v THURSDAY, April 10, 2014
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
GEORGE MOORE FENNELL
HARVEY A. HERBERT
REIL
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of George Moore Fennell. George was born in Kamloops, BC on September 8, 1939, the eldest son of Marston and Ellen Fennell of Chu Chua, BC. He was also the eldest grandson of George and Margaret Fennell, ranching pioneers in the North Thompson valley.
Allan Donald Reil, born April 29, 1936 in Arcola, Saskatchewan passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Survived by his wife and soul mate, Marlene Purpur, brother Art Reil of Regina, SK, sister Vivian Fox (Wendell) of Lower Sackville, NS and children Robin (Mike), Dean (Sue), Lynda (Al), Darcy, Kelvin (Paula) and grandchildren Renata, Nicolas, Alicia, Benjamin, Branden, Brody, Matthew, Amanda, Jason, Trevor and Nick and greatgrandson Darion Luelo Granda and many nieces and nephews.
George passed away at Laurel Place in Surrey, BC on April 2, 2014 with his wife Carol by his side. He leaves to mourn in passing his wife Carol; Kathy (the mother of his sons); sons Darryl (Chantal), daughter-in-law Lisa and son Geordie; his grandchildren Joey, Jennifer and Jessica and numerous nieces and nephews. George is also survived by his sister Frances (Arthur); brother Jim (Margaret); and brother Robert (Joanne). George was predeceased by his sister Peggy and his son Tim. George grew up in Chu Chua and went to high school in Barriere, BC. He recorded one of the highest IQ test scores in the region and graduated from high school when he was 15. He enjoyed participating in athletic activities and once set a record in high jump that lasted several years. The small school was an ideal place for him to develop the many friendships that have lasted to this day. After graduation George entered the workplace as a field hand on the Genier ranch, just outside of Barriere. Soon after that, with the help of his uncle Sandy, he went to work for Dawson and Wade construction on a rock crusher across the river from Little Fort. From crushing, he followed the company to a series of road building jobs on the Big Bend highway. It was there that George began his proficiency at driving trucks of all sizes and became a part of the teamsters union. He worked at various jobs in logging and construction until he went to work on the Mica Dam project. With a small airport nearby, he was able to utilize his spare time by getting his private pilot’s license. During the winter shut-down, he sometimes worked as a bartender and bouncer in a Kamloops pub. With work at Mica winding down, George moved to the Vancouver area in 1971 and continued a solid association with the Teamsters’ organization. He was a strong trade unionist and promoted workers’ rights at every opportunity. In the late seventies and early eighties, he travelled the province as part of a group of activists advocating on behalf of fair treatment for women and all truck drivers, both within the union and throughout the industry. After various jobs in the transportation sector, George became involved in the movie industry which he enjoyed greatly. He got to work around people like Rodney Dangerfield, Cybil Shepherd and Gene Hackman, who became a personal friend. One of his fondest memories was joking around with John Byner, who is a real clown both on and off camera. George worked in that industry for many years beyond retirement age, saying “why should I sit at home when I can work with so many nice people all day long.” George loved to play sports - any sports....slo-pitch, golfing, curling, billiards, and coaching sports such as hockey. He has several trophies that attest to his prowess. George often played a leadership role in the sports leagues he was involved in. He was a loyal team player and was front and center in anything that was happening. He was often called upon to be “the organizer” for many events. In later years, George took the most enjoyment from his grandchildren;#1 Grandson Joey, Princess Jennifer and future Olympian Jessica. He took every opportunity to go places and spend time with them. His other major interests were curling and golf. George and Carol were avid golfers and enjoyed their golfing holidays in Hemet California. One of the things that he enjoyed most about visiting “back home” in Kamloops, were the great golf courses and the people that he was able to share them with.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Jean Reil, and his father and mother Peter and Elizabeth Reil. Allan joined the Canadian Navy at a young age and later became a member of the Air Force. He was posted to Esquimalt, BC, Halifax, NS, Moose Jaw, SK, Gimli, MB, Germany and Kingston, ON before retiring and moving to Kamloops in 1973. Allan was well known for his ability to “tinker” with and fix anything. He worked in the air conditioning and heating business for many years and was always willing to help others. He had a huge heart and will be remembered and missed by his many friends and family members. The family would like to thank Dr. Mavis Hollman for her many years as doctor to Allan (and the family). Service to be held on Friday, April 11, 2014 at 2pm at Kamloops United Church, 387 4th Avenue, Kamloops, BC with Rev. Bruce Comrie officiating. In lieu of flowers donations are encouraged to the Kamloops Hospice Association.
George will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
As per Allan’s wishes he will be cremated and his ashes spread over the ocean near Esquimalt, BC.
There will be a celebration of life on Saturday April 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Cloverdale legion hall at 17567 57th Ave. Cloverdale.
Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com
Any friends or family wishing to make some brief remarks in tribute to George should contact the family ahead of time for scheduling purposes. Humorous anecdotes are welcome as long as they are within the bounds of good taste.
Schoenings Funeral Service 250-374-1454
JEROME ROBERT BACKMEYER
MALCOLM JOHN CAMPBELL
1925 - 2014
April 4, 1938 – April 3, 2014
Jerome Backmeyer, resident of Grande Prairie, passed away in Grande Prairie on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the age of 88 years.
It’s with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing and say goodbye to our loving dad, uncle, grandpa, and friend Malcolm (Mackie) John Campbell.
Jerome was born in Strasbourg, SK, on October 23, 1925. He was raised in rural Saskatchewan, the land and outdoors becoming steeped in his blood. Jerome LOVED to grow things. He derived great pleasure form sowing and reaping in his garden. He was a man of strong convictions and great pride; pride in his work, his beliefs and pride in his family. He took great delight in his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Jerome was working for the Weather Office and stationed in Snag, Yukon, the winter of 1947. One of his most often told stories was of the day the record was set for the coldest day in Canada ever, in Snag at -62.8˚ on February 3, 1947. He told of how your breath would freeze almost before it got out of your mouth, and he was there to experience that. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 62 years Tee Backmeyer, sisters: Leona (Art) Gladish and Rita (Art) Gowans; his children: Joe, Rod, Don and Greg, their families and his many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Alex. Prayers will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 7:00pm at Oliver’s Funeral Chapel in Grande Prairie (10005 107 Ave.). Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 14, 2014 at 11:00am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grande Prairie (10404 102 St.). Memorial donations may be made to The Call of The Poor (P.O. Box 117 St. Norbert, MB R3V 1L5). Condolences may be sent by visiting www.oliversfuneralchapel.com
Dad passed away early Thursday morning in the Royal Inland Hospital after a hard fought battle with cancer. Mackie is survived by his loving daughters Georgina (Chance) Hook; Cory (Lee) Baxter; his son Quinn (Corey) Campbell as well as his four grandchildren (Carson Baxter, Landon Baxter, Meghan Campbell, Melissa Campbell). We lost our father with a heart of gold Who meant more to us than wealth untold Without farewell he fell asleep Leaving us cherished memories for us to keep To those who have a father cherish him with care You’ll never know the heartache till you see his empty chair For those of you that had the pleasure of sharing our Dad’s life, we will be having a Celebration of Life at 1:00 pm on April 12th, 2014 at the Sports Central Lounge, 1430 Summit Drive, Kamloops, BC. Please join us in joyously remembering Mackie for his kind generous heart, his tenacity and strength and of course his strong willed decisive Campbell way. Condolences may be expressed on line at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com Schoenings Funeral Service 250-374-1454
1924 - 2014 Herb passed away April 6, 2014 with his three children by his side. He is survived by his three children; Diane (Bill) McGaw, Don (Kathleen) Herbert and Deidre Herbert (Steve), his four grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren as well as his two sisters Alice Rummey of Victoria and Beryl Herdan of Salmon Arm. Dad was predeceased by his wife Joan of 61 years, his brother, Morris and his three sisters, Connie, Lois and Joyce. Born in Avonlea, Saskatchewan, Dad moved to Rolleau, Saskatchewan, then Terrace, BC. Dad left Terrace and joined the U.S. Merchant Marine which served along the West Coast. After a short time Dad met and married Joan in 1945 and they moved to Camp 6 on Cowichan Lake (Duncan, BC) where Diane and Don were born and Dad worked for the BC Forest Products on locomotives. Herb became a Master Mechanic in 1952 when the family began to travel, chasing various construction and pipeline projects on the Alaska Highway in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The family moved to Williams Lake in 1960 to settle down where Dad took over the Texaco Station at the “Y” and ran it until 1969, when, with their youngest daughter, Deidre, they went back to pipeline work in Ontario and Alberta. In 1977, Dad and his son, Don, worked on a pipeline in the Assam Province in India for six months. Herb worked at pipeline inspection until retiring in the early 1990’s. After Joan passed away in 2006, Herb lived in Chase, BC until the age of 87, when he moved into The Hamlets in Kamloops, BC where he was well cared for and enjoyed his time there. We have lots of good memories, stories and laughs that will keep him in our thoughts forever. The family would like to send special thanks to the staff on 4 North at RIH and at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home in Kamloops. Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com Schoenings Funeral Service 250-374-1454
PATRICIA LORRAINE HILTZ (nee CARAVAN) November 3, 1962 – April 3, 2014 Patti passed away peacefully at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice with her family by her side. Patti will be sorrowfully missed and never forgotten by her husband Freddie , her son Ashley Hiltz, her mom and dad Lue and Gordon, brothers James and Robert (Janice) and her beloved four legged companions Ozzie and Cosmo. She will also be missed by her many friends. She was predeceased by her grandparents, her Uncle Glen and Uncle Bill and most recently her grandmother Doris Bacon. Patti had many interests and excelled at all she did. She was an advocate for Pit Bulls and rescued Ozzie to join her pack that she loved to walk especially her Thursday evening pack walk. In the summer you could find her at the Nl’akapxm Eagle Mortorplex in Ashcroft, in her blue Mustang, racing like the wind on the quarter mile track. Her first year racing she won the “Rookie of the Year” trophy and was proud to display it. She was a mentor to many and made very good friends in those endeavors. Our family would like to thank all the caring angels at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice, and the doctors and nurses that cared for her during her one year battle with stomach cancer. There will be no formal service; a family/friend gathering is planned for later this summer. No flowers by request. Donations may be made to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice, SPCA or the Canadian Cancer Society in Patti’s memory. Fly free with the butterflies Patti we will love you forever. Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com Schoenings Funeral Service 250-374-1454
Pennies From Heaven I found a penny today Just lying on the ground But it’s not just a penny this little coin I’ve found. “Found” pennies come from heaven That’s what my Grandpa told me He said angels toss them down Oh, how I loved that story . He said when an angel misses you They toss a penny down Sometimes just to cheer you up Make a smile out of your frown So don’t pass by that penny when you’re feeling blue It may be a penny from heaven That an angels tossed to you.
Charles L. Mashburn