Ivan Cizmic

Ivan was born in Slimenu, Croatia on January 3, 1932, the sixth of nine children born to Jozo & Mile Čizmić. It was his parents who molded his remarkable work ethic and his lifelong commitment to his faith and family. When his father died in 1947, the strength his mother showed for the family would impact him greatly. He and his siblings were especially close and would remain so throughout their lives.

At the age of 23, with his best friend, Grgo Topić, he escaped communism by crossing the militarized border into Italy. He wanted a better life and saw it as an opportunity to support his widowed mother. He spent two years in a refugee camp in Trieste before being sponsored to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1957, he landed in Halifax aboard the Vulcania and travelled to Port Coquitlam where he would make many new lifelong friends in the Croatian community. It was in Vancouver where he met the love of his life, Marija, and they married in 1964.

Ivan and Marija moved to the Nimpkish Valley and it was here that the two formed a strong marriage based on the shared value of always putting family first. They would welcome their three children – Sandra, Joseph, and Philip – and the close-knit community provided a wonderful life for them. Ivan and Marija cherished the memories from this time and appreciated the friendships they made. Ivan first came to Nimpkish in 1960 working as a high rigger for Canadian Forest Products. After impressing the foreman with his problem solving skills, he took on the role of heavy duty mechanic. As chargehand, Ivan was responsible for keeping the diesel-electric locomotives running. He knew these machines inside out and, when one locomotive reached end of service, he was able to completely strip it down and rebuild it.

Ivan devoted his time to ensure his wife and children would always be provided for. Wanting better opportunities for his family, Ivan moved them to Campbell River in 1976 and continued to commute to camp for 20 years. There they built their family home of 50 years and developed many lifelong friendships. Ivan retired from Canfor in 1997 after 37 years of service.

Ivan had a special relationship with his six grandchildren and took great joy in becoming a Dida. He never gave up an opportunity to answer one of their questions or tell a story from his childhood or deliver a well-timed joke. Ivan had a studious mind with an insatiable desire for knowledge. He read regularly and was especially interested in history and politics. Ivan always appreciated the opportunities Canada gave him and was always proud of being Croatian. He always knew when the Croatian national team was playing regardless of the sport, often staying up late or getting up before dawn to cheer them on – and sometimes even coaching from afar.

Ivan was always thankful for the love and kindness he received from family and friends. Despite health challenges over the years, Ivan’s strength remains an inspiration to his family and he was especially grateful for being able to stay living in his home. However, the most influential person for Ivan was his wife, Marija, whose warm and kind nature gave him a loving home and marriage. It was Marija who remained foremost in his thoughts even at the end of his life. Ivan and Marija celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before she passed in 2024.

Ivan is predeceased by his wife, Marija; his parents, Jozo & Mile; his brothers, Filip, Marin, Jerko, Ante, & Mate; his sisters, Vera & Mira; sisters-in-law, Jerka, Stanka, Danica, & Mare; and brothers-in-law, Mate & Jakiša.

He is survived by his brother, Nikola; children, Sandra (Zvonko) Čulo, Joseph, Philip (Shelley); grandchildren, Evan, Monica (Alec), Nicole (Tyrell), Manda (Chad), Maja, and Ivo; sisters-in-law Anđelka & Matija; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, kumovi, and friends in Croatia, Canada, and the United States.

A sincere thank you to Dr. Duncan Douglas for the outstanding care and kindness he gave Ivan for almost 30 years and to the wonderful staff at Quinsam Medical. A special thank you also to Dr. Aaron Clark for the wonderful care over the years.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church at 34 South Alder St., Campbell River. A prayer service will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in memory of Ivan Čizmić to the Campbell River Hospital Foundation (www.crhospitalfoundation.ca).