It is with sadness that, on May 28, we had to say goodbye to our dear dad who passed away the way he lived his life. His passing was peaceful, quiet, dignified and full of grace.
Born October 15, 1925 in Kamloops, B.C., dad lived in Vancouver for the first few years of his life. At the age of 12, he moved to Penticton with his father, sister Helen and paternal grandmother who helped raise the children. He had many summer jobs working at Paradise Ranch, the Shingle Creek Ranch and up at Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park where he helped cut some of the original trails. He spent his last year of high school at St. Georges Boys School in Vancouver and went on to UBC to study agriculture and agronomy.
He served in both the army and air force and was in Halifax, ready to be shipped overseas to serve his country when the war ended. He regretted not having the opportunity to serve his country through active duty.
In 1946, he married Yvonne Barbara Baldwin and they had five children. The family were long-time residents on an acreage in Okanagan Mission that they later subdivided and sold, retaining just the family home on ¾ of an acre. Mum and dad hosted many wonderful parties and events at their home and the house was often full of happy relatives and visitors who came to enjoy our orchards, gardens and horses. Mum and Dad’s door was always open and between dad’s bagpiping and mum’s piano playing, the house was full of music. Dad really loved all the animals we kept - horses, dogs and a cranky old cat.
In the early years, dad left university and worked at whatever he could to support his young family. He eventually settled into a career in real estate and land development. He had a passion for the Okanagan, especially Penticton and the surrounding area. He was a wealth of historical knowledge and had a very keen memory for every name and detail. We loved his many stories of local characters and of his experiences growing up. He had a huge and generous heart as was evidenced by so many acts of kindness over the years to family, friends and strangers.
Dad learned to play the bagpipes at a young age and it remained a passion throughout his whole life. He had a repertoire of over 200 tunes and travelled to pipe in many parades and competitions over the years. He was the pipe major for the Kelowna Legion Pipe Band for several years. We always spent November 11 around the cenotaph where dad was honored to pipe the Flowers of the Forest many times. He was the piper at many special occasions including the official opening of the Hope Princeton Highway, as well as the arrival of Pierre Elliott Trudeau at the Kelowna airport. He was one of two pipers to pipe “Amazing Grace” as the casket of former premier W.A.C. Bennett was borne out of First United church at his funeral in February of 1979.
Dad was an avid bridge player and played regularly in the Monday Night Okanagan Mission Men’s group for many years. He could still play a good game of bridge right up to the end. Due to COVID-19 and not being able to go into Brookhaven, his last game of bridge was in January. His cribbage skills too were something to aspire to. His name is on several cribbage trophies!
For over 70 years, he was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion where he served on the executive. He was a member of the Kinsmen Club and a member of the B.C. Dragoons Whizzbang Association. In the eighties, Dad moved to Vancouver Island and lived in Saanichton for several years where he was active with the Legion and volunteered for many years with the VIHA at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
His travels were mostly within Canada. He always said, the Okanagan is the most beautiful place in the most beautiful province in the best country in the world. Why go anywhere else? He was a voracious and avid reader and kept abreast of global affairs and events.
In 2003, he moved back to Kelowna to be closer to family again and spent 15 years living independently at Hawthorn Park. Following a stroke on January 1, 2018, dad spent three months in a hospice bed at Brookhaven Care Centre. The wonderful staff at Brookhaven took such good care of dad that his health improved immensely. He rallied and the choice was made to move him into a private residential care room where he enjoyed 2 more years of life playing bridge, cribbage, and enjoying the happy hour entertainment every Friday. We were able to take him out to enjoy family dinners and special occasions. Sometimes he hosted us in the Gala Room at Brookhaven and we’d order in Chinese food. His favorite.
Thank you Dr. Mackle, for your faithful visits to dad over the years and your excellent care. To the staff at Brookhaven – you are an exceptional group of caregivers. It does not go unnoticed and you are appreciated more than you know. You were like an extended family to our dad and the quality you added to his last two years of life was wonderful. Your sensitivity, your professionalism, your care and concern, your tolerance of dad’s stubbornness and your obvious fondness for our dad was so palpable. Thank you.
Dad had many lifelong friendships and will be remembered by those that knew him as a man of kindness, honor, tolerance, wisdom, and intelligence. His quick wit and sense of humor were so much fun. He was a great story teller and regaled us with so many over the years. His memory was amazing. He could recount those stories, recite so many poems and sing so many songs, knowing the words by heart.
Dad was predeceased by his wife Yvonne Barbara Haskett, sister Helen Slater and good friend, Ruth Fitzpatrick. He leaves to mourn and appreciate all the happy memories and treasured times, his five children, Christina Shields, Patricia Perkins, Maureen (Gordon) Savage, Denise (Jose Ortiz) Haskett, and Matthew (Susan) Haskett. He will also be missed by his eight grandchildren who adored him - Duncan, Brodie, Karen, Dan, Cassandra, Nathan, Jesse, and Kendra. Six great grandchildren are also part of dad’s legacy. Audrey, Danica, Zoe, Luke, Jesse and Emile. Dad was GG (Great Grampa) to them.
The family will host a private interment and a celebration of dad’s life will take place at a later date to be announced when we are able to safely gather with family and friends to share memories of our dear dad.
Arrangements entrusted to First Memorial Funeral Services.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5