Charles Norman DePape

1924 - 2021

DePAPE, Charles Norman January 4, 1924 - August 28, 2021 Charles "Chazz" DePape passed after a brief and unexpected illness on August 28, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. He is survived by his wife Andreanne, son Charlie (Debbi DePape), grandson Connor DePape, niece Sandra Hall (Tony Penny), niece Linda Demers (Peter Demers) and their sons Sam and Alan, as well as countless close friends and extended family. He is predeceased by his first wife Maxine DePape, son Con, daughter Marlette (David Christie), sisters Louise Hall (Jim Hall) and Irene Cowieson (Simon Cowieson). Chazz grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan where he attended Wetmore school. His first job was changing oil and pumping gas at his dad's service station, where he was required to wear an all-white uniform - a detail that would prove to be significant in later years. When the gas station closed his father opened a Packard dealership; it became a father and son enterprise. It was here that his lifelong love affair with automobiles and motorcycles began. During WWII Chazz served in a Tactical Fighter Wing of the RCAF and was stationed in England, France, Holland, and Belgium until the war's end. After the war he returned to Regina, resumed his position with the family Packard dealership, married his first wife Maxine, and together they started a family. In 1964, he opened DePape Volkswagen/Porsche Ltd. He became a private pilot, not just for recreation, but so he could fly across the country on short notice to purchase additional inventory for the dealership. Chazz was also a Shriner, and in addition to supporting many charitable activities, he organized their first motorcycle drill team. He was also a skilled marksman and competitive trap shooter. In 1962 he travelled to Toronto to try out for the Olympic Trap Shooting Team, but fate had different plans for him. Back in Regina, Maxine went into labor with their third child, and he chose to abandon the tryouts and return home to be a gold medal Dad. In the Spring of 1969, he travelled to Victoria on business and fell in love with what he saw. After a family meeting that lasted exactly three seconds, the decision was made to move to Victoria BC. For the next 20 years, DePape Motors was Victoria's premiere dealership for pre-owned luxury automobiles. Chazz was in his element; he loved his work, and was well respected by Victoria's business community. He had a flair for marketing and was often in the news. On one occasion, he took a horse on trade for a car and had the owner bring the horse to his indoor car lot to physically exchange keys for reins, and he loved every minute. Always a snappy dresser, he had a keen eye for fashion. He used to say "Well wrapped is half sold." It wasn't unheard of for him to dress his kids to match the upholstery of the car they were driving that day. It was also his unshakeable belief that jeans were the scourge of mankind, though he would acquiesce in later years. On a warm day, it was not unusual to see him on the car lot wearing white dress pants and white patent leather shoes, perhaps a nod to his father and the gas station days. In the late 80's, Chazz sold DePape Motors and retired to Vancouver, where he lived with his wife Maxine until her passing in 1993. It was in Vancouver that he met and later married his second wife Andreanne, and a new chapter began; They moved to Scottsdale AZ where he was able to spend the next 26 wonderful years in the Arizona sun with the woman he described as the love of his life. Chazz was a lifelong Harley Davidson rider who rode regularly until age 93. He was an active member of the Black Mountain Motorcycle Club. In 2016, a near-fatal collision forced him to reluctantly hang up what remained of the helmet that saved his life. He spent the next year convalescing with the help of his loving wife and an amazing medical team. Never one to roll over, he managed to get back on two wheels for a few short rides at age 96 which he enjoyed immensely. It should be noted that on the day that he proposed to Andreanne, she said yes provided he promise to live to be 100. Though he passed at 97, he would be the first to point out that once you adjust for 25 American years and calculate the exchange, he'd kept his promise. That would have been important to him. This old-school gentleman, devoted husband, loving father, innovative thinker, occasional rascal, and friend to many passed quietly with his adoring wife by his side. The Chazzman will be greatly missed by his family, his numerous friends, and the many people whose lives he touched. In lieu of a service, the family asks that a donation be made to a charity of your choosing.