Jun 18, 1921 - Feb 2, 2018
Our dear Dad and Grandpa, Alfred Antonson, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 years, in Sunpointe Village in Kelowna BC on the morning of February 2, 2018.
Alf was born near Success, SK on June 18, 1921 to Sigurd and Mina Antonson. He was the second oldest of 4 brothers (Oscar, Marble and Alvin, predeceased in 1998, 1989 and 2015). In 1936, the family left Success, SK for Coquitlam, BC. Alfred's first job was delivering milk for a local dairy. With the outbreak of WW2 in Europe, Alf and his brothers enlisted in the Canadian Army. Alf and his older brother Oscar were in the Royal Canadian Engineers. Alfred was wounded on April 10, 1945 when the half-track he was driving was hit by a mortar near Deventer, Holland. Alf recovered from his injuries and stayed in Europe until his release from the army in 1946.
He returned to BC, maintaining strong friendships with a number of his war buddies. On July 1, 1960, Alfred married the love of his life, Dulcie Ada Jones (predeceased in 2006). They were blessed with 2 sons; Keith (1961) and then following a move to Quesnel in 1962, Carl (1964). In 1975, the family moved to Kelowna.
Alf worked as a skilled carpenter; in the earlier years in logging camps, then in construction until his retirement in 1982. He used his skills to build 2 homes for his family, both in Quesnel and Westbank.
In 2010, at the age of 89, Alfred went into care for two years at Brookhaven Care Home in West Kelowna, and then moved to Sunpointe in Kelowna. Alf wore a gentle smile everywhere he went and was grateful and appreciative for the care he received, especially from the wonderful staff at Sunpointe.
Alf had a strong commitment to his family and he was always there to help a family member in need. Alf was never a man caught up in material things, but he surely enjoyed a plate of ribs and sweet potato fries, with a Kokanee beer. He enjoyed the fun of lottery scratch tickets, and earned the nickname "lucky Uncle Alf".
He loved his grandchildren immensely and so enjoyed sharing time together with a strawberry sundae on a Sunday afternoon. Alfred is lovingly remembered and so very missed by his son Keith, daughter-in-law Laurie Anne, grandchildren Ben and Meghan; son Carl, and grandson Eric; also nieces and nephews and many friends.
Celebration of Life will be held at First Memorial Funeral Home, 1211 Sutherland Ave, Kelowna BC, on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, if you so desire, we ask you donate to the Canadian Kidney Foundation.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.co. 250-762-2299
First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna