Arnie was born in Aggassiz, B.C. He spent his early childhood there on the families’ dairy farm. Later in the 20’s, they moved to Vancouver’s University Hill area. In 1935 his family bought Bowron Lake Lodge and they moved to the wilderness. Culture shock I’m sure. He worked with his father and brothers running the resort, cutting cord wood and delivering it to the mines in Barkerville and Wells as well as delivering supplies to the trappers in the area. He graduated from Wells School. During the depression, Wells became a boom town and Arnie worked at Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine as a machine operator. He travelled to California to take some training to build aircraft and then worked for Boeing during the war. He became a company foreman while in the Vancouver division. After the war ended the plant closed and he came back to the Bowron/Wells area. When Western Plywood was being constructed in Quesnel,
they needed a crane and an operator. Arnie was working in Wells at the time and agreed to go with the needed equipment. He met Julie in 1949 and married in 1953. He was hired by Western Plywood (Weldwood) as a foreman and soon became Personnel Manager. Arnie remained there until his retirement in 1985. Arnie loved the simpler things in life. He and Julie made many trips to Reno by car & camping holidays. He enjoyed his grandchildren and spent many hours walking the riverwalk trail with them. He often took strolls to town and it usually took a few hours with all the stops to say hello, even though he only lived a block away. He had a quiet, easy going manner. A Gentleman and a gentle man. Arnie will be sadly missed by his family.
Daughters: Diane, Wendy (Dave) Heppner. Grandchildren: Cheryl, Donna, Brian (Aimee), Geoff, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, Brother Roy and Sister Dorothy and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his Wife, Julia in 1997. Thank you to the nursing and Support Staff at Dunrovin Park Lodge for your wonderful care of Arnie the last few years. Thank you to our friends and family for their support the last couple of weeks. Words cannot express enough. Also, thanks to Richard and Clayton’s Funeral Directors and Gilbert at Big Country Printers. An informal tea was held on Tuesday, August 10th at the Royal Canadian Legion. Donations in Arnie’s memory can be made to Quesnel Residential Care Society, 900 St. Laurent Avenue, Quesnel, B.C. V2J 3S3