Douglas Kirk Iversen

Douglas Kirk Iversen was born on July 23, 1958, in the small town of Exeter, Ontario. He was the only child and son of Authur Iversen and Eva Iversen (née Radkiwch). Doug moved cities a lot as a child because his father was a fire fighter in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Iversen’s first moved to Burnaby before finally settling in Richmond, British Columbia, when Arthur retired from the Air Force and gained employment as a firefighter with the Vancouver Airport fire department. Doug spent his entire adult life living in Richmond.

Doug had a rewarding career at Woodward’s in Vancouver, BC, where he was the Advertising Coordinator for the Home Furnishings Divisional Office. He excelled at this job as he did at everything he tried. He was well liked by his coworkers and made life long friends with Steve McNeely, Gerald Keyes, and Brian. Monthly dinners for 40+ years kept their friendship and brotherhood strong. After Woodwards shut down, Doug had a long and rewarding 20 year career at Wilkinson Steel and Metals as a Purchasing Manager/Buyer of metals, specializing in flat rolled products such as hollow steel sections (HSS) and steel coils. Doug’s hard work, reliability, and friendliness made him well liked by his “Wilky family”.

Doug had a late career job at Coast Mountain Bus Company after Wilkinson as a shuttle bus driver thanks to his good friend Steve McNeely, who encouraged him to apply for the job. Doug was a safe and pleasant transit operator best known for doing the morning show up shift where he always offered his fellow operators a kind smile and helpful hand. Doug made many friends at Coast Mountain, especially with Jing, the Community Shuttle Dispatch Clerk. Jing was like a caring sister to Doug. Doug became fluent on how to say good morning in Cantonese, “jo sun”, while driving a particular route that always had the same group of Chinese grandpas and grandmas taking his bus. “Jo sun! Jo sun! Jo sun!”, he would say to each Chinese elderly passenger that would come onboard his shuttle bus. The Chinese grandpas and grandmas would smile brightly at his respect and enthusiasm and some even give him a thumbs up sign, “good job!”, and laugh warmly. Doug said that it really made him happy.

Doug was a huge fan of James Bond and Marilyn Monroe. Like all Canadian’s, Doug was a hockey fan and it truly showed through his large collection of hockey cards and hockey memorabilia.

Doug’s love for air travel was shown through his massive collection of airplane models and airline memorabilia; especially Cathay Pacific, Air Canada, and of course his ultimate favorite airline, Pan America Airways, commonly known as Pan Am. Model airplanes, airline tail pins, vintage travel ads; his collection of model airplanes and memorabilia fills every available space in his home. His collection is his pride and joy and Doug treasured every piece.

Every Saturday for the last 10+ years of his life, you can always find him on the golf course, in the early mornings, regardless of rain or shine, and sometimes even sleet, with his group of dedicated golf buddies. (Unless of course there’s an airline or hockey collectors convention. He could never resist the call of a possible new addition to his collection. Sorry golf buddies!)

Doug is survived not by blood or formal family of the Iversen or Radkiwch lineage but by his chosen family, Frankie and Gordon Wong and their four children; Colin, Noah, Riley, and Hana. Doug met Frankie (née Ngu) in 2003 at Wilkinson Steel and Metals as coworkers. From this friendship, Doug gained his dedicated golf buddy Gordon, 3 nephews and a niece, and a large party of extended family through Frankie and Gordon’s side, who all considered Doug a brother, an uncle, and a family member. He was an honorary Wong to them. Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays (oh so many birthdays due to inheriting such a large family), Sunday night dinners, Saturday night dinners, Tuesday night dinners. Doug was there and always had his place at the family dining table. Traveling to Asia was one of Doug’s dreams and it eventually became a reality with his travels to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the Philippines. His love for Hong Kong style lemon ice tea and Hong Kong style French toast was known by the family.

Doug was one of those 1-in-a-million gentle and beautiful souls that graced this earth. Doug will not be forgotten and will always be loved. Doug would like to be remembered as:

Loving Son. Wonderful Friend

Pan Am Enthusiast

Part-time Golfer