Clarence Alexander Zwarich

ZWARICH, Clarence Alexander
Dec. 14, 1931 – Aug. 23, 2016

Clarence, aged 84 years, passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2016 with his children, Sandy and Jeff by his side. Over the past 18 difficult months, the accumulated effects of several health-related events and the loss of his wife Ione, his companion for 45 years, culminated in the closing of the final chapter in Clarence's life at Carewest Colonel Belcher, a veteran’s care facility in Calgary, AB.

Clarence was born to Jennie and George Zwarich at Kamloops, BC, on Dec. 14, 1931.  During his childhood, the family moved several times: firstly, to Sooke on Vancouver Island where Clarence started school at Milne's Landing, to North Kamloops and then to Monte Lake, where he finished elementary school. What was a teen to do in a rural community?  In the mid-1940s high school was not an option and employment was related to the logging industry. Clarence solved this dilemma by joining the army and training with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry(PPCLI) as a paratrooper. He served in the Korean War. Home base was Calgary for Clarence and Ione during their child-rearing years. They made many memorable summer excursions with their six kids in tow to Shuswap camping grounds. When the kids began to grow up and leave home, they moved to Kamloops in 1980, where they resided until their recent move to Lake Country. Kamloops, with its many golf courses and family golf partners, was the ideal setting for Clarence to participate in his favorite sport. As retired "empty nesters," they joined the snowbird migration south to enjoy the warm winter months in Yuma, Ariz. Always a close-knit family, they welcomed and enjoyed having visitors to their Yuma getaway. There is some sadness now that Clarence is gone, but he left his family many fond memories to recall.

Clarence's quiet and dignified persona will be lovingly remembered by his children, Sandy (Leo) Visser and Jeff (Carol) Zwarich of Calgary, AB, Debbie (Ken) Barr of Lake Country, BC, Carol Masecar (Jim Commodore) of Val Marie, SK., and Linda Gigliotti and David Masecar of Creston, BC; also left to cherish his memory are his siblings, Norman (Pat) Zwarich, Ron Zwarich, Sonja (Nelson) Routhier, Audrey (Ben) Nielsen and Linda Chrystall, all of Kamloops; sister-in-law, Pat Zwarich of Cochrane, AB; as well as 17 grand and great grandchildren. Clarence was predeceased by his first wife, Margaret aka Peggy (1968); brother, Andrew (1984); second wife, Ione (2016); and nephew, Larry (2016).

The family wishes to express its sincerest appreciation to his care-givers at the Brookhaven Care Centre at West Kelowna and Carewest Colonel Belcher at Calgary for their kindness and compassion.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring of 2017 at Shuswap Lake.  There will be no Formal Service.