Tribute

It is with heavy hearts that we share that Andy passed away peacefully August 17^th at Cowichan District Hospital in Duncan BC after a valiant and courageous battle with cancer. Andy was a great man and his love of life and his family helped him to beat the odds and make it over a year when he was given only six months.

He was born in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan and he moved with his family to BC when he was two.  He grew up in the Lower Mainland where he played baseball, fished, hunted and boxed.  It was in Richmond, BC he met and married the love of his life, Mary, in 1969. In 1971 they moved to Faro, Yukon where he started his career in mining. It was there where he welcomed his two children, Candace and Andy Jr. to the family. In 1978 Andy moved to Port Hardy, BC where he spent 19 years raising his family and working at the Island Copper Mine (BHP).  Andy loved his job at Island Copper and it brought him many challenges and rewards. When the mill quit running December 31, 1995 he moved to The Crowsnest Pass, Alberta to work at Fording Coal (TECK), Coal Mountain Operation.  Before retiring in 2007 he moved to Sparwood, BC. Always a hard worker, he was proud of the work he did from loading the coal trains at Coal Mountain to controlling the mill at Island Copper. He instilled this strong work ethic in his children. Andy was also involved in Mine Rescue and Marine Search and Rescue in Port Hardy and loved these opportunities. In retirement Andy and Mary moved to Lake Cowichan, BC where they lived until he passed.

Andy always made sure he attended all that he could while his children were growing up.  These activities were important to him.  Summers were spent camping, travelling and visiting extended family.  Family was very important to him right to the end. After his family, Andy’s second love was fishing.  He fished from Port Renfrew to Port Hardy where he always believed he would catch the largest salmon on record. Andy was willing to take and teach anyone interested to fish.  Andy loved fishing with his children, grandchildren and his loyal fishing buddies.  Andy loved to spend time in retirement fishing, playing crib, growing his roses and grapes, helping Mary fix her quilting and just be with the people he loved.

Andy is predeceased by his parents Helen and Ferdinand, his brother Roger and his grandson Gabriel.  He loved and will be missed by his loving wife Mary, his 2 children – Candace and Andy Jr (Ashleigh) and his 4 grandchildren – Zachery, Aiden, Ryker and Ainsleigh as well as other family and close friends. He held a special place in his heart for Lloyd and Jeanine Watko. He deeply loved his family, his friends, his dog (Toby) and his grand-dogs (Tinsel and Oliver). He spoiled all those he loved.

Andy was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, friend, neighbour and co-worker. He was a man of few words but when he talked he had a knack for making others smile and laugh. Everyone who ever met Andy was charmed by his sense of humour and his genuine kindness.  Those that knew Andy well were blessed to see the glimmer in his eyes and be teased by him. He held his friends and family close to his heart.  He was always trying to help others and make sure that they were happy.

Heartfelt thanks for all the support from our friends during this journey and the wonderful and compassionate care Andy received from Dr. Blackburn, Dr. Felske-Durksen and the nurses on 3 South at Cowichan District Hospital.

We have so many great memories of Andy and are blessed to have these to comfort us now. There are no words to adequately express the tremendous loss we feel. Rest in Peace Andy, you will be forever missed.

No service will be held at Andy’s request. Andy would want us to carry on with our lives and remember him with a smile and twinkle in our eyes.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers please consider a donation in his memory to Cowichan District Hospital or BC Women’s Hospital Newborn ICU.