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Gordon Wilfred Olson, 84, of Strathnaver, BC, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 23, 2017 at Quesnel Hospice of esophagus cancer. Born in Kelowna, BC on December 26, 1932 to Albert and Iona Olson. He moved to the Cariboo in 1951 and married Bonnie May Peever, also of Kelowna. They had two children, Donna (Dan) Mintz and John Olson of Granisle, BC.

Gordon and Bonnie left the Cariboo in the early seventies and went south before moving on to Hazelton, Telkwa and Burns Lake areas before returning to Quesnel in 1992. They worked together at various jobs, building Provincial Parks around the northern part of BC, logging and farming. He was a trucker, owned and operated a backhoe and loved his small John Deere cat. Many a day he just seemed to “move it” as if it needed exercise. They moved to Strathnaver in 1994 and Bonnie passed away of cancer in 1995. Donna and Dan moved to Strathnaver in 1996 to help take care of him.

Gordon was of the generation that left school to get work and help support the family but he excelled at numbers. He could do math faster than a person could enter numbers into a calculator. He loved cards and taught everyone in the family to play crib. He watched news and kept track of all the world events and politics.

On June 1st, grandchildren Kevin (Rasha) Kroonen and great granddaughter Jessica of Oregon, Scott (Charlene) David and great grandchildren Ryley Backer, Haley and Gavin of Quesnel, Jeramy Olson and great granddaughter Danika of Smithers, Matthew Olson of Saskatchewan, Emily (Erich) and great grandchildren Everett and Adelle of Smithers, Terry Ross (predeceased Tamara) (Corinne) Krystal, Kayla and Sarah of Prince George and April Rodinger of Victoria, started arriving and spent several days with “Papa”. At that time many other friends and relatives also stopped by and visited with Gordon and the family. No service will be held as all of his grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended grandchildren, friends and family celebrated his life with him at that time.

On June 6 th with deep sadness, the family brought him into Hospice. A special thank you to Quesnel Hospice for their loving care and support.

Memorial donations may be made in Gordon’s name to the Quesnel Hospice or to BC Children’s Hospital.