NILSON, Nils Carl
March 16, 1933 - March 15, 2017
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a wonderful loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle. Nils passed away peacefully, Tuesday, March 15, 2017 in Ridge Meadows Hospital after a short but courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Vancouver, the firstborn son of Oscar & Julia Nilson. Nils was predeceased by his loving wife of 63 years, Barbara, in January 2016. He will be greatly missed by sons Ken (Lorraine) and Vic (Tamara), and daughters Nita (Norm), and Lori (Chris). His brother Rolf (Norma). Twelve grandchildren: Jessica (Jason), David, Amanda (Evy), Mike (Ashley), Carlene (Nick), Tom, Nils (Amanda), Derek (Jennifer), Sonja (Chris), Joe, Laina (Colin), & Allan (Cory). He was also proud to be Great Grandpa to 7 little ones, with 2 more arriving soon.
Nils spent his childhood in the Vancouver - Burnaby area where he met his future wife, Barbara in elementary school. They started dating in high school and were married soon after. They raised their young family of 4 children in Burnaby before settling in Pitt Meadows. As a young man, Nils worked in many different sawmills in the area, and also in the fishing industry on many different boats, until finding work with Canadian Stevedoring in 1960. He was a member of Local 500 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). He was extremely proud of having had a long career as a longshoreman on the Vancouver waterfront.
A Celebration of Nils's life will be held Tuesday, March 28th, 11:00 at the Garden Hill Funeral Home, 11765 - 224th Street, Maple Ridge. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the BC Cancer Foundation.
Expressions of sympathy can be made at www.gardenhill.ca