Tribute

Charles Walter (Ollie) Zuehlke, of Oliver, passed away peacefully, at McKinney Place Extended Care Unit, on Friday, May 6th, 2011, at the age of 91 years. He was born on April 2nd, 1920, at Stettler, Alberta.
Charlie was predeceased by his parents, Jacob (Jake) and Josephine (Jo) Zuehlke, his brothers, Frederick (Fred) and Jacob (Chap), his sisters, Alice Walker, Nellie (Nella) Murdoch and Margaret (Midge) Rider, and his chosen siblings, cousins Evelyn (Ev) and Ronald (Tom) Thomas. He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Marjorie, and his children, Sharron and Grant, of Oliver, and Mark (partner Frances Backhouse), of Victoria, his grandchildren, Gordon Zuehlke (partner Kassy Brietzke), Reanna Zuehlke (partner Dustin Platz) and Shelann Zuehlke (partner Marc Cropley), and great-granddaughter, Chelsy Platz, all of Kamloops, his brother and sister-in-law, William (Bill) and Beverley (Bev) Zuehlke, of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, his sister, Evelyn (Evie) Porterfield, of Dorion, Ontario, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Charlie grew up on his parents” farm near Donalda, Alberta, and learned the business of farming at an early age. On November 14th, 1939, he married his childhood sweetheart, Marjorie Rider, and throughout the War Years they farmed. In 1946, Charlie, Marjorie and their three-year old daughter, Charlie”s parents and several other relatives moved to Falkland, British Columbia. Throughout the next decade, Charlie and Marjorie operated a farm and he also worked in a local sawmill, where he gained experience operating a steam boiler. It was during that period of time that the couple”s two sons were born. In 1956, Charlie and Marjorie sold their farm and moved into the hamlet of Falkland, so that their children could be closer to school. In 1960, Charlie earned his Power Engineering Certificate, and that enabled him to gain employment as a relief engineer at the Delview Hospital, in Vernon, and subsequently as an assistant seasonal engineer at a cannery in Summerland. In the autumn of 1965, Charlie moved his family from Falkland to Summerland. Early the following year, he was hired as the permanent steam engineer/maintenance man for the new courthouse in Oliver, and the family relocated to that community. Charlie worked at the Oliver Courthouse for thirteen years, during which time he and his family resided in the building that is now the Oliver Museum. In 1978, he was transferred to the Penticton Courthouse, where he held the position of cleaning supervisor until his retirement in 1985.
Charlie was fond of animals, especially horses and dogs. He enjoyed repairing motor vehicles, puttering in his workshop, reading, camping and travelling in his motorhome, church functions, golfing, fishing, and the occasional hunting trip with his son, Grant. He especially enjoyed returning to Alberta to visit relatives and longtime friends, and his many annual trips to Utah and other parts of the Southwestern United States.
Charlie was a parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor Anglican Church and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Above all, Charlie was a kind man and a loving husband and father, who devoted his life to nurturing and assisting his family. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to a relative, neighbour or friend. He will be remember by many in Oliver, driving his old red LandRover around and about town.
Cremation has taken place; and a memorial service will be held at St. Edward”s Anglican Church, on May 20th, 2011, at ll:00 a.m., followed by interment in the Oliver Cemetery and a reception at St. Edward”s Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted for McKinney Place or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Condolences may be sent to the Zuehlke family personally or by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com
Arrangements entrusted to Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium, Oliver & Osoyoos, BC.