Marko Puharich

Passed on: October 13th, 2013

Born Marko Radovanovi to Milka Radovanovi and an absent, philandering Alexzander Puhari on the first of August 1924, he left us on Sunday, October 13th, 2013.

Marko finished grade four and began his working career at age nine years old in his birth city of Belgrade. By fifteen, he was working in Austria when the Second World War started. At this time he went from paid worker to forced labourer, until his escape in 1941 back to the kingdom of Yugoslavia. There he joined the army and began the fight against fascism and communism. He was eventually imprisoned by the new communist government. Once again, he escaped, this time from a makeshift prison in central Belgrade on Good Friday, 1950. He made for the Austrian border with his wife and eventually to Canada.

At 27 years old, he started his new life in Canada with nothing. His wife and son (George) arrived three months behind him. He worked as a steel fabricator and bought and sold real estate. By 49 years of age he was retired. For the next forty years, he and Persida enjoyed winters in Florida and summers in Ontario and then eventually moved to Chase, B.C. where he loved going to garage and yard sales. He was a man who worked hard and was very proud of his boys.

Predeceased by his brother Dushan, his infant son Nino (in 1949), his infant twin daughters in Yugoslavia and his much loved grandson Dallas (in 2000).

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Persida (Danilovi), and his three sons: George (Wendy), Dushan (Val), and Stevan (Lisa). He also leaves behind six grandchildren: Krystyna, Ani, Erik, Marcus, Boris, and Mila; and two great-grandchildren, Khoen and Diondre. Marko also leaves his brother John (Mira) and nephews Alex and John Jr. and their families.

A Graveside Service will be held at Hillside Cemetery, Kamloops, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 19th, 2013, with the Reverend Robert Crosby officiating. A reception tea will follow at Lisa and Stevan's home, 1402 6th Avenue, Kamloops.

Friends wishing to pay their respects by viewing are invited to do so Friday evening October 18th, in the Schoening Funeral Chapel, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Should friends desire, donations to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home, where Marko was lovingly cared for in his last hours, would be most appreciated by the family.