He, along with his 9 siblings (Clarence, Leonard, Bernice, Lloyd, Roy, Violet, Leo, Howard & Don), spent his younger years helping with running his parents’ farms.
In the 1950s, Elmer began his love of driving by being employed by Edmonton’s bus lines for a time.
When he decided to attend a college in Camrose, he met his future wife, Marj Rabel and they were married in 1960. At the same time, Elmer was also a high tenor in a gospel quartet which travelled and performed in churches in southern Ontario and into northern US. Shortly after this, their first son, Dale, joined them.
Elmer and his family moved & accepted several pastor positions before settling in Richmond. By the late 1960s, Murray, Rodney (‘Butch’), Karen & Patti had joined the family. Elmer was involved in building a new church of which he also became the pastor.
Eventually, they moved to to White Rock, opened and operated a “Big Scoop” restaurant which employed several of their children during off-school hours.
The “Scoop” was a big success.
But the financial “bad times” of the 1970s fell upon them and the move to Vernon was made. While living in Vernon, Rodney was involved in a motor bike accident & shortly passed away. The family was devastated but Marj stayed in Vernon and Elmer had accepted a driver position by Brewster Bus company in Banff—coming home to Vernon during his days off. Brewster required new employees to take a course on Banff and the Rocky Mountains so foreign passengers could be given correct answers to their questions. Elmer excelled in this course & thoroughly enjoyed his drives into the most beautiful Rockies.
Finally, Elmer & Marj moved to Surrey; Elmer became employed by McCullough Coach Lines & began many trips into the US including many overnite trips into Nevada. He even drove an empty bus down to Miami for a large function down there.
By 2007, he had limited driving to only short trips, no further than Seattle. He had met me, Thelma Zacharias, and we were married. He began to show me parts of Alberta after attending Southern Gospel Quartet concerts in Red Deer every July. He still loved driving and it showed during these trips.
Elmer was a social, extroverted & gregarious person, I loved him & will forever miss him.
—Thelma H.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.9.6