Tribute

Dan passed away peacefully after a long illness, with his wife Nancy by his side. He is survived by his beloved children Michael (Sarah) of Nanaimo, Andrea of Courtenay and Kirsten of Houston, BC; his dear grandchildren Elena (Kyle), Hannah and Jacob; delightful great-grandson Oliver; and by his sister Sara Golling (Les) of Rossland, BC. Dan was born in Santa Barbara, California, and immigrated to Canada with his parents and little sister in 1948, homesteading on Stuart Island. He enjoyed the beauty of the natural world on the island but had to move to Powell River to complete high school. Here he met and, in 1965, married Nancy Johnston. After a honeymoon in Hawaii they settled in Powell River to raise their family. Dan had begun working in the mill after high school graduation; he successfully completed his apprenticeship as a millwright and continued to work there for 25 years. He left in 1981, eventually establishing his own business – Gold River Dredging – in Gold River. During this time he also obtained his crane operator’s ticket. He and Nancy built a beautiful home on Green Lake in Nanaimo, which was enjoyed with family and friends for many years. In 2006 they retired and were very delighted to move back to Powell River. Dan was a stoical man of few words, with a very witty sense of humour. He was an excellent provider for his family and had a genuine gift for hospitality, creating many warm and happy memories for his family and friends. He faced the challenges of life with dignity, courage and quiet wisdom. Dan enjoyed being an active member of his community and was a good athlete. He was a founding member of the Mount Diadem Ski Club, helping to build the cabin and rope tow. He loved skiing in the mountains, was a powerful swimmer (once swimming from Harwood Island to Willingdon Beach), an active member of the badminton club and enjoyed chess, pool and golf. Dan enjoyed travelling and took his young family on a summer trip across Canada exploring the country from sea to sea. He and Nancy spent an unforgettable seven weeks touring Europe with a group of friends and they also enjoyed numerous trips to Hawaii. After retirement, they spent three months of the year in their southern California home. Dan loved life there, visiting his relatives, exploring the area and relishing the sunshine. The family would like to express its gratitude to all the staff at ECU who gave Dan such excellent and compassionate care throughout these difficult pandemic times. Thank you to his good doctor, Martin Andreae, and a warm thank-you to Dan’s loyal friends who stuck by him during his illness (you know who you are). Thank you also to the people of Westview Baptist Church, and all the others who supported Dan and his family with their prayers and kindness. There will be a small family celebration of life in the late spring. “Save the first dance for me, Dan.”