The family of Lee Douglas Stalker are deeply saddened to announce his sudden and unexpected passing on March 30, 2020. Born in Stoughton/Heward, SK on November 1, 1944 to James Stalker and Violett May Stalker. He was predeceased by his father in 1986 and an infant nephew. He will be forever mourned by his wife Patricia Stalker; daughters Lisa (Randall Jonasson) Steiger (her mother Ann Stalker), Christine (Dustin) Savage, of Kamloops, BC; son James Stalker of Sun Peaks, BC; grandson Juaren Lee Steiger (and his father Marius Steiger of Kamloops) of Kingston, ON; and four granddaughters Ivy James Savage, Clementine Marie Savage, Estelle Katherine Savage, and baby Marigold Lee Savage. Also his granddog Tucker Stalker as well as his little dog Chiquita. Also left to mourn are his mother Violett Stalker of Saskatoon, SK who recently celebrated her 100th birthday; sisters Patricia (Gerry) Bader of High River AB, Lynn (Stan) Ward of Oak Lake Beach Resort, MB, Vonne (Bob) Macpherson of Aberdeen, SK, Dr. Penny Stalker (Ken) Coutu of Saskatoon, SK; his sisters-in-law Glenda Schiiler of Sorrento, BC, and Roberta (Bob) Melander of Kamloops, BC; and his numerous nieces, nephews and cousins he kept in touch with via Facebook. He dearly loved and was proud of all of his family. He was also predeceased by his in-laws Robert and Doreen Kilgore of Yak, BC and his BFF Clayton Russell of Heward, SK.
As a youth Lee loved horses. He would often spend the days riding with his sisters to neighbouring farms, and in the spring and fall enjoyed riding his horse “Prince” to school. His sister Lynn recalls how Prince was known to lull Lee into believing he would behave and would then proceed to toss him off – some swearing ensued!
Lee also loved cars. His first one was a Model A, but his pride and joy was a blue Chevelle Malibu.
After leaving school in 1963 Lee worked for a drywall company for the summer. He lived in Estevan for a while and attended STI to study Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.
In his younger years Lee was a skilled athlete and won many championships. He was the Provincial Pole Vaulting Champion of Arcola, SK in 1963, and participated in track and field, hockey, curling, football, etc. As a young man he became an adventurous downhill skier at a variety of resorts with Sun Peaks as his main hill. Lee worked hard all summer and enjoyed skiing with the family for some winter recreation. He had the best set of golf clubs money could buy (and a wicked slice). Lee and Patricia were season ticket holders to the Kamloops Blazers for 15+ years and he always had an opinion about the refs.
In 1986 Lee obtained his private pilot’s licence for light aircraft and later obtained his commercial pilot’s licence. He was active in the Kamloops Flying Club, Kamloops Air Search and Rescue,and PEP Air Kamloops. If there are any other flying organizations then he was probably a part of those as well. He loved flying his Cessna 172 ‘Fox Indy Yankee Bravo’ second only to his family, we believe.
Also left to mourn are the members of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church where he served in music ministry, as a council member, relief bible study teacher and lay preacher, and he was even known to lend a hand in the kitchen making pancakes and egg-in-a-hole. He had a strong Christian faith and was always eager to share.
He enjoyed his winter vacations down South – especially in Puerto Vallarta. He got a kick out of saying, “Oh you got your wife chocolates for Valentines? I bring mine to Mexico every year…that’s pretty good, right?”
He will be missed by many in the community as the owner/operator of Advanced Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Inc. and previously with J Walsh & Sons. He worked in the trade for 56 years and many clients became friends.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Kamloops Food Bank, Salvation Army, or the charity of your choice.
His family would love to hear your stories or memories about Lee. Please email them to: leestalkerstories@gmail.com .
A celebration of life will be held summer 2020.
7 Tributes
Oh Pat I’m so sorry for your loss.when this type of death happens in can never give you the chance to prepare.
I hope you are doing well yourself.
Pat, my sympathies on the loss of Lee, my thoughts are with you and your family.
Please accept my most sincere condolences to u and the family Pat…so sorry for your loss..all my love Loraine
Lee was my second cousin and a great man and friend. Whenever he came to Merritt, my hometown, on business, we always made time to meet each other for lunch. I loved his story telling and sense of humour. Lee once took my Dad, Dick Ortner, on a plane trip up north. Dad talked about that his whole life. Thank you Lee for always making a different. My prayers and deepest condolences to the whole family but especially to my Aunt Vi Stalker.
To Pat and all family members our deepest condolences in the passing of Lee. He loved you all very much and will be missed.
Dear Pat and family. I’m so deeply sorry for this loss. Lee was this wonderful man that would stop me in my tracks and just share his world with me. Father type roll model and one kind of man I highly respected. I thought very highly of his advice and his caricature. He spoke often to me when I would run into him at Starbucks in Valley view. He also spoke highly of you Pat and shared how proud he was of both kids and extended family. A true blessing. And I will deeply miss him.
Dear Patricia, we are so sorry for your loss. I remember many great conversations with Lee. when he would stop by the coffee shop or when he took me flying. I’ve thought of him many times over the years since we left Kamloops. You remain in our prayers.
Love & God Bless
Peter & Heidi MacLean