George Peter Sawczuk
February 17, 1924 – April 15, 2012
With great sadness and love, the family of George announces his passing, peacefully at his home in Nakusp, BC, attended by his wife, Thelma, and their daughter, Georgia. The funeral and memorial service was held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Nakusp, BC on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Cremation to follow.
The family wishes to thank Glenn Weatherhead and the Legion as well as Gary Sulz of Brandon Bowers who met the wishes of our tired airman with diligence.
George was born in Kaslo and grew up in Argenta, BC. After serving with the RAF as a Lancaster tail-gunner in WWII, he taught gunnery at Boundary Bay and was awaiting further deployment when the war ended. His return to the Kootenays saw the beginning of a logging career via the first veterans loan issued in the Kootenays and marriage to Thelma, his wife of 65 years. He is survived by Thelma and three daughters: Dr. Andrea Sawczuk, of Reston, VA; Georgia Sumner, of Revelstoke, BC; and Kristine Marsden, of Coquitlam, B.C., six grandchildren, Heather, Matthew, Nathan, Owen, Bret and Sean and three great-grandchildren, Michael, Zavier and Carmen. George was pre-deceased, this month, by precious first grand-daughter, Danielle Nally, of Las Vegas, Nevada, Andrea’s daughter.
George was a contract logger in the Lardeau and West Kootenay as well as Trout Lake and Penticton. In the 1970s he and Thelma owned and operated Interior Peterbilt Ltd, a heavy duty truck dealership in Penticton and Cranbrook, covering the southern interior of B.C. In 1980, they returned to a different lifestyle in Trout Lake to continue a sub-division on the water, and build a home. 1990 saw them spend winters in Arizona until 2005 when the move to Nakusp brought them closer to medical attention. He set a fine example of hard work, honesty, and guidance to those around him. He was our on-board GPS and a true Kootenay “Bull of the Woods.”
Donations may be made to the Canadian Lung Association.