Tribute

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Vern following major aortic surgery at the Abbotsford hospital.
Survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Muriel (nee Sostad), son Gregory (Coquitlam), daughters Leanne Fletcher (Kamloops) and Barbara (Dean) Desmarais (Kamloops), grandchildren Cassandra, Alysha and Colton Fletcher and Philip and Vincent Desmarais.
Predeceased by parents Nicholas and Helen (nee Dammen) and sister Mildred Shaw. Survived by brother Leonard (Rocky Mountain House) and sisters Ardella Tulloch (Rocky Mountain House), Marlys Austin (Lethbridge) and Evelyn Burkart (Moose Jaw) also aunts, uncles and may nieces, nephews and cousins in Canada and the U.S.A..
Vern was born in Dawson Creek, B.C. , where his parents homesteaded for a short time and then moved to southern Saskatchewan. Vern’s senior schooling was in Moose Jaw where he was a 2-time Saskatchewan High School curling champion. As a top athlete, Vern was first alternate in the decathlon for the Canadian Track and Field team for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
Vern joined the R.C.M.P. in 1953 and retired in 1973 with an exemplary record and received the Long Service Medal. In 1967 he was awarded The Canadian Centennial Medal for valuable service to the nation. In 1968 Vern received the R.C.M.P. Commissioner’s Commendation and Rectangular Bar for Bravery in the face of danger.
Vern was first stationed in Ottawa and then in numerous towns in British Columbia.
In 1971-73 Vern attended Simon Fraser University taking selective courses in commerce and business law. In 1973 he was the personnel and security manger for Grouse Mountain Resorts Ltd. He then moved on to become the first Compliance Manager of the Vancouver Stock Exchange. Vern was later appointed to the B.C. Motor Carrier Commission where he also served on the reconsideration panel.
Vern became interested in the mining industry and was president of several companies that became amalgamated and later absorbed by larger companies. At the time of his passing he was Chairman and CEO of Envirosource Specialty Minerals Inc. Vern was a visionary and his latest interests were in Egypt (where he visited several times) and introduced natural specialty minerals for beneficial uses in agriculture, aquaculture and animal husbandry.
Vern was sports minded and in his early years he played baseball and was a pitcher for the Smithers Mohawks and the Terrace Loggers. He was also an avid curler and golfer winning many trophies. Vern loved camping with his family and was always in charge of the barbeque.
Forever in our hearts, he will be dearly missed. There will be a private family celebration of his life.
If you wish, donations in Vern’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Diabetes Association.