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BORN
1965
DIED
2021
Samuel Winter Obituary
Sam left us on Jan. 31, 2021 at the age of 56. He was born on a sunny day in Merritt on July 25, 1965.
He is predeceased by his parents Samuel Abel & Louise Jules and Walter & Joan Winter. Left to grieve are his daughter Caitlyn and grandsons Deklin and Cayden, to whom he meant the world and they to him. Also in sorrow are Caitlyn's mom Gail, his brothers and sisters: Cook (Joe), Joan, Lorraine, Roseann, Dianne (Ian), Joyan (Dirk), Ralph, Katrine, Pierre (Shorty) and many cousins, nieces, nephews and family friends.
Sam spent his childhood in the woods at Campbell Lake in the North Thompson where he learned how to fish, appreciate wildlife, haul water and cut wood. Unbeknownst to him at the time, he created many hilarious family memories which will always be cherished. Sam graduated from Barriere Secondary in 1983 and was one of those lucky kids to participate in Katimavik (a cross-country youth program) where he learned how to speak French and experience life in three parts of Canada. With encouragement from a high-school teacher, he attended and graduated from the cooking program at the Pacific Vocational Institute in Vancouver and worked as a cook at the Banff Springs Hotel (where he and Gail met and married) and later in other restaurants in Victoria, West Vancouver and Kamloops. He loved cooking and would still be standing on his feet 8-12 hours a day had arthritis not made this impossible.
Sam will always be remembered for his generous personality - so generous that it often worked against his own best interests, for his devotion to his daughter and grandsons, helping family as much as his health would allow and for serving as chef for decades at large family gatherings. He loved to travel and dreamed of many more international adventures.
Sam learned a bit about hunting while brushing his teeth one morning at Campbell Lake. "Hey, Dad, there's a four-point buck outside the bathroom window." In a suit and tie, Walter, soon to become affectionately known as The Great White Hunter, did the deed. We ate venison steaks and stew for many weeks afterwards. Thankfully, Sam further honed his hunting skills alongside his brother-in-law Joe Jules and stew pots simmered and venison roasts baked once again. Over the decades, Sam came to learn a great deal about his heritage and traditions from his Simpcw family. He was enthusiastically welcomed home and with open hearts his Campbell Lake family were also warmly welcomed into the fold.
We are saddened that many of Sam's Secwepmec traditions cannot be followed at this time due to covid protocols. The family appreciates the full-on, attentive treatment Sam received by the doctors, nurses and staff at Royal Inland Hospital. Kukwstep-kuc. Despite their many efforts, Sam died of a rare, rapid-spreading infection from an injury to his right hand that occurred a few days earlier, and for which there is no cure.
Sam will be deeply and forever missed.
Drake's Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.
He is predeceased by his parents Samuel Abel & Louise Jules and Walter & Joan Winter. Left to grieve are his daughter Caitlyn and grandsons Deklin and Cayden, to whom he meant the world and they to him. Also in sorrow are Caitlyn's mom Gail, his brothers and sisters: Cook (Joe), Joan, Lorraine, Roseann, Dianne (Ian), Joyan (Dirk), Ralph, Katrine, Pierre (Shorty) and many cousins, nieces, nephews and family friends.
Sam spent his childhood in the woods at Campbell Lake in the North Thompson where he learned how to fish, appreciate wildlife, haul water and cut wood. Unbeknownst to him at the time, he created many hilarious family memories which will always be cherished. Sam graduated from Barriere Secondary in 1983 and was one of those lucky kids to participate in Katimavik (a cross-country youth program) where he learned how to speak French and experience life in three parts of Canada. With encouragement from a high-school teacher, he attended and graduated from the cooking program at the Pacific Vocational Institute in Vancouver and worked as a cook at the Banff Springs Hotel (where he and Gail met and married) and later in other restaurants in Victoria, West Vancouver and Kamloops. He loved cooking and would still be standing on his feet 8-12 hours a day had arthritis not made this impossible.
Sam will always be remembered for his generous personality - so generous that it often worked against his own best interests, for his devotion to his daughter and grandsons, helping family as much as his health would allow and for serving as chef for decades at large family gatherings. He loved to travel and dreamed of many more international adventures.
Sam learned a bit about hunting while brushing his teeth one morning at Campbell Lake. "Hey, Dad, there's a four-point buck outside the bathroom window." In a suit and tie, Walter, soon to become affectionately known as The Great White Hunter, did the deed. We ate venison steaks and stew for many weeks afterwards. Thankfully, Sam further honed his hunting skills alongside his brother-in-law Joe Jules and stew pots simmered and venison roasts baked once again. Over the decades, Sam came to learn a great deal about his heritage and traditions from his Simpcw family. He was enthusiastically welcomed home and with open hearts his Campbell Lake family were also warmly welcomed into the fold.
We are saddened that many of Sam's Secwepmec traditions cannot be followed at this time due to covid protocols. The family appreciates the full-on, attentive treatment Sam received by the doctors, nurses and staff at Royal Inland Hospital. Kukwstep-kuc. Despite their many efforts, Sam died of a rare, rapid-spreading infection from an injury to his right hand that occurred a few days earlier, and for which there is no cure.
Sam will be deeply and forever missed.
Drake's Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Kamloops This Week from Feb. 9 to Mar. 8, 2021.