Ira Lewis Withler

Ira was born in Kamloops on October 17th, 1932, and spent his formative years in Boston Bar. His father was the station master there and Ira spent many days at the train station or fishing with friends in Anderson creek and the Fraser River. This likely led to his love of the outdoors throughout his life.

Leaving Boston Bar as a young man, Ira moved to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia. This is where he met some of his lifelong friends who affectionately gave him the nickname “Zeke”. Zeke graduated with a Masters in Zoology and while at university met a beautiful Austrian girl from Vancouver named Geraldine (Gerri). Post university, Ira and Gerri married and settled in Victoria. Here, he worked for the Fish and Wildlife branch of the provincial government and Gerri raised two boys - Carl and Dean. The family had numerous friends and family on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland. Ira and Gerri would often pack up the kids to visit her side of the family and his brother Fred and sister Isabel.

Leaving Victoria, Zeke and Gerri moved to Williams Lake, Lansing Michigan, Penticton and ultimately Kamloops where Ira “retired”. To keep busy, Zeke volunteered with Canadian Executive Services Overseas (CESO) working on projects in Peru, Panama, China, and several other countries. He was an active Rotary member through which he helped build community gardens in Kamloops and schools in Thailand. His efforts in Rotary earned him a Paul Harris Fellowship and ultimately a Senatorship – the highest award a Rotarian can receive. His greatest, individual, volunteer contribution was raising millions of dollars to build the new building at the Kamloops Wildlife Park.

Gerri passed away in 2008 and Ira eventually moved to Kelowna to be closer to his sons Carl (Isabel) and Dean (Maria), but most importantly his grandchildren, Michael, David, Catrina and Olivia. They were the highlight of his life, and he loved time spent with them at every opportunity. They affectionately called him “Grumpy” even though he wasn’t.

Ira was happiest with family and proud of all the accomplishments, often slightly embellished, of those closest to him. Dad led a full and happy life and will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him and enjoy his unique humor. He was fond of dogs, doughnuts with butter and Louis Armstrong. If you wish to honour him, please play “What a Wonderful Life” and think of this amazing man who lived a great life.