Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Clifford Gunderson Obituary
Born in Reserve, Montana on September 15th, 1918 and passed away October 10th, 2016 in Kamloops, BC.
Dad's parents Gus and Ida, decided to move the family to the Beachy, Sask. area in 1921 to homestead on the prairies. His father, Gus was a carpenter, building many homes and also some grain elevators in the area. When he was old enough, Dad was helping on the farm as well as some of the building, including the school where he received his education!
The Great Depression forced a move for the family to Aldergrove, BC in 1936. Life was hard, but there was work to be had in the building trade, so Dad worked in construction for a while around the Lower Mainland of BC. He also found work in logging and sawmills.
Logging on Vancouver Island was his next adventure. He started out hand falling the big trees, but soon moved on to power saws! He met Olaf Fedje while working in the woods and they decided that they would start a business to supply fallers and chainsaws to the various companies on Vancouver Island. After a few years of building a very successful business (Fedje and Gunderson) together, Dad was tiring of the pressure of his part of the business which was the mechanical side, so he decided to sell out to Olaf and go farming.
He had a new family so after scouting many areas in the BC Interior, they moved to Vinsulla in September of 1953. He had married Hazel Urvold in 1949, and they were blessed with three children Brian (1950), Sandra (1951) and Norman (1953).
Dad's knowledge of construction was willingly given to many neighbours for the building of houses, outbuildings, etc. Also his mechanical ability and skills were much appreciated by many. Both sons soon learned that if you wanted something, you could make it yourself. Meanwhile, Sandra was developing her love of horses.
Most years Dad would organize a hunting trip with his father and some of his brothers to many areas of BC. In later years, it was with neighbours that would accompany him for the annual hunt. Brian also went along, as did Thomas, Brian's son. Many happy times were spent out in the wilderness in his "Hunting Cabin" that he built to go on the back of the old 1948 Mercury truck and later on the 1966 baby blue Ford 1 ton. He later built a pop-up camper that he and Hazel traveled to many areas in, including Yukon, as far East as the Great Lakes and South to Texas. Fishing was also a source of relaxation for him either with family or an eager neighbour.
In his retirement years he enjoyed working in his shop, building many fine pieces of furniture as well as a cedar strip canoe that was almost too beautiful to use! He also spent many hours cutting down the pine trees that were killed by the pine beetle infestation, and burning the huge piles of branches he had made.
He was still running his chainsaw up to the age of 92!
The loss of his beloved wife Hazel in July 2014 was a blow that he never overcame. With a broken heart, he spent the last 2 years of his life first in RIH, and then at Pine Grove Care Center where he received excellent care.
Clifford is survived by his three children Brian (Sidsel), Sandra (Jim Moran) and Norman (Elna Borgenesset) as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother Roger (Judy) in Fanny Bay and his only sister Lorna Martin in Surrey.
A Celebration of Clifford's Life will be held October 30th at 1:00 PM in the Heffley Creek Community Hall.
Anyone wishing to say a few words is welcome to do so, as the family would very much appreciate your thoughts.
Dad's parents Gus and Ida, decided to move the family to the Beachy, Sask. area in 1921 to homestead on the prairies. His father, Gus was a carpenter, building many homes and also some grain elevators in the area. When he was old enough, Dad was helping on the farm as well as some of the building, including the school where he received his education!
The Great Depression forced a move for the family to Aldergrove, BC in 1936. Life was hard, but there was work to be had in the building trade, so Dad worked in construction for a while around the Lower Mainland of BC. He also found work in logging and sawmills.
Logging on Vancouver Island was his next adventure. He started out hand falling the big trees, but soon moved on to power saws! He met Olaf Fedje while working in the woods and they decided that they would start a business to supply fallers and chainsaws to the various companies on Vancouver Island. After a few years of building a very successful business (Fedje and Gunderson) together, Dad was tiring of the pressure of his part of the business which was the mechanical side, so he decided to sell out to Olaf and go farming.
He had a new family so after scouting many areas in the BC Interior, they moved to Vinsulla in September of 1953. He had married Hazel Urvold in 1949, and they were blessed with three children Brian (1950), Sandra (1951) and Norman (1953).
Dad's knowledge of construction was willingly given to many neighbours for the building of houses, outbuildings, etc. Also his mechanical ability and skills were much appreciated by many. Both sons soon learned that if you wanted something, you could make it yourself. Meanwhile, Sandra was developing her love of horses.
Most years Dad would organize a hunting trip with his father and some of his brothers to many areas of BC. In later years, it was with neighbours that would accompany him for the annual hunt. Brian also went along, as did Thomas, Brian's son. Many happy times were spent out in the wilderness in his "Hunting Cabin" that he built to go on the back of the old 1948 Mercury truck and later on the 1966 baby blue Ford 1 ton. He later built a pop-up camper that he and Hazel traveled to many areas in, including Yukon, as far East as the Great Lakes and South to Texas. Fishing was also a source of relaxation for him either with family or an eager neighbour.
In his retirement years he enjoyed working in his shop, building many fine pieces of furniture as well as a cedar strip canoe that was almost too beautiful to use! He also spent many hours cutting down the pine trees that were killed by the pine beetle infestation, and burning the huge piles of branches he had made.
He was still running his chainsaw up to the age of 92!
The loss of his beloved wife Hazel in July 2014 was a blow that he never overcame. With a broken heart, he spent the last 2 years of his life first in RIH, and then at Pine Grove Care Center where he received excellent care.
Clifford is survived by his three children Brian (Sidsel), Sandra (Jim Moran) and Norman (Elna Borgenesset) as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother Roger (Judy) in Fanny Bay and his only sister Lorna Martin in Surrey.
A Celebration of Clifford's Life will be held October 30th at 1:00 PM in the Heffley Creek Community Hall.
Anyone wishing to say a few words is welcome to do so, as the family would very much appreciate your thoughts.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Kamloops This Week on Oct. 17, 2016.
Memories and Condolences
for Clifford Gunderson
How you can show support
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.