August 6, 1927 - July 19, 2021
Dad passed away peacefully in the wee hours of July 19th after fighting a fairly rapid battle with cancer. Dad had a very long and healthy life other than his last few months. Abe was born in Saskatchewan on the family homestead.
Being the second oldest he left home at a very young age to work on adjacent farms and then diamond mining in Ontario so he could send money home for his parents and their growing family.
When Abe was 20, he and a buddy hopped on a freight train and Abe came out to BC, where he hooked up with his uncle John Wiens. His uncle John took him under his wing and taught Abe to become a faller. John also introduced Dad to his future father-in-law (Edgar Friesen) who took him home for dinner where he met his soon to be wife (Babs) and the future mother of his 4 children. It wasn't long before they tied the knot.
Abe rigged and topped trees to bring home the bacon and soon started making cedar shakes. He had his own shake mill for several years and all 3 of his sons and their sons were destined to become cedar shake men too.
Abe loved the Cariboo and upon a fairly early retirement he moved to 100 Mile House for 20 years and then Clearwater for 25 more. He called himself a "Caribrooster". He loved snowmobiling and the winter and passed that passion on, to many of his kids and grands. Dad also loved boating and waterskiing in his younger years and passed that on too.
He finally moved back to the coast where his family lived for the last 4 years of his life. Abe moved into Chartwell Willow Manor and enjoyed meeting new people and built some very nice friendships.
Dad is survived by his 3 sons Bruce (Linda); Terry (Natasha); Tony (Darlene) and his daughter Louise (Jamie) Luttmer. He was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
"We have no doubt he is at peace now and are grateful he is."
Thank you to the care Dad received at McKinny Creek Hospice and a special thanks to his nurse Natasha for being there in his last few hours.
A small gathering with family and friends will take place at a later date.