Sheri Maxine Bahnsen It is with heartbreaking sorrow that we announce the passing of Sheri Maxine Bahnsen (née Surgeson). Sheri passed away at the age of 40 years at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, BC on December 13, 2024 after a very short battle with cancer.

Sheri was born on March 1, 1984 in Ashcroft, BC. She was raised by her loving parents, Marilyn and Bob Surgeson, in Cache Creek, BC. Throughout the course of her childhood and teen years, Sheri developed and maintained many cherished friendships. Sheri’s friends meant the world to her and she would do anything to support them, encourage them, and find ways to let them know that they were always in her thoughts. However, Sheri had an adventurous soul and Cache Creek just couldn’t satisfy her restless spirit.

Sheri loved to travel and had an insatiable need to see the world. She was always plotting out the next destination that she just HAD to experience. The travel bug hit Sheri when she was given the opportunity through Ashcroft Secondary School (ASS) to go to Europe. This trip to Europe sparked a fire in her and she later went on to travel to Thailand, Mexico, Las Vegas (on multiple occasions), and Ireland. In the midst of her traveling adventures, Sheri moved her physical location and developed friendships that she always held dear in the communities of: Kelowna, BC, Whitby Ontario, and Kamloops, BC.

It was in Kamloops, BC that Sheri found a reason to remain grounded when she met the love of her life, Simon Bahnsen. Simon introduced Sheri to a different way of adventuring and seeing the world by experiencing the beauty of nature that was in her own backyard. Despite her fear of heights, Sheri began rock climbing, hiking, and pushing herself to the limits with her best friend by her side.

Just when Sheri thought life could not get any better, she and Simon were blessed to welcome Isabelle and then Emmett into their lives. Sheri’s entire world changed after becoming a mommy. There wasn’t anything that she would not do for her children. She loved them deeply and would move Heaven and Earth to ensure that their needs and wellbeing came before anything.

Sheri was fiercely loyal to her family and friends and her passing has left a tremendous hole in our hearts. Sheri will forever be remembered by her husband, Simon; her children, Isabelle and Emmett; her parents, Marilyn and Robert; and her sister and brother-in-law, Leanne and Ian; her family by choice Katie, Detlef, Eric (Nikki), Jessica (Adam), Peter (Kara), along with nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that are too numerous to name.

A celebration of life will be held in the Spring of 2025. An announcement will be made on social media with an exact date and time after arrangements are made. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Isabelle and Emmett’s RESP via bahnsenburner@hotmail.com

Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

On October 22, 2024, Nathan passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. He was born on November 20, 1970, in North Vancouver and moved to Kamloops at the age of 9 months with his father Bob and mother Karen.

Nathan had fun as a kid. He spent a lot of time exploring the outdoors with his family. He especially liked visiting the Abram family who had a farm at Dempsey Lake.

After graduating from high school, Nathan had several jobs, including working as a desk clerk at a family-owned hotel in Courtenay. After that he worked as a tree planter for several years. He loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and hunting. Nathan had a big smile when riding his ATV with Bob and Lynn.

Nathan is survived by his father Bob, stepmothers Lynn and Kathryn, mother Karen, sister Selena and brother Jordan and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Roy and Violet Lawrie and Norman and Mary McKenzie.

We all called Nathan a survivor. About 25 years ago he was floating down Adams River with friends and the raft capsized. Nathan was wearing a life jacket and survived. Later he was in a serious car accident and survived without a scratch. In 2002 near the Calgary Stampede, he fell under a train and lost both his legs. He was attended to by paramedics who were at the Stampede grounds and once again survived. Unfortunately, he was not able to survive a small bug – Streptococcus pneumonia. He was in hospital for 5 days intubated under sedation. He passed away peacefully attended by family – sister Selena and her children Tegan and Maelle, mother Karen, Uncle Hamish, stepmother Lynn and his father Bob.

A celebration of life will be held next spring.

Nathan had a kind heart and will be remembered.

Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

Doreen passed away December 10, 2024 at Ridgeview Lodge Sienna Senior Living in Kamloops, BC at 89 years of age after a short illness. She was predeceased by her mother Mabel Thompson (1994), husband Arthur (2008) and sister Sybil (Jerry) Perkin (2019) but is survived by 3 sons Alan (Meg), Derek, Ivan (Jacqueline) and 2 grandchildren Allison and David (Nicole).

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 14, 1935, Doreen lived her early childhood years in Londonderry with her mother, grandmother and sister during the Second World War. Her father David Thompson passed away before her birth, which motivated her to train as a midwife and registered nurse, completing her education and residency at Royal Victoria Hospital (Belfast, N. Ireland) and Queen Charlotte’s Maternity Hospital (London, England). She emigrated to Vancouver, Canada soon after her sister in 1958 where she met and later married Arthur in 1960. Soon after their marriage, they moved to the southern BC interior and after a brief time at YD Ranch near Barnes Lake, they settled in the village of Ashcroft. Alan was born in 1961, Derek in 1963 and Ivan in 1965, making her life busy with childrearing in the early years. Doreen employed her nursing skills and expert care at Lady Minto Hospital in Ashcroft and in 1972, became a Home Care Nurse, managing community based care for patients in Ashcroft and surrounding areas. She continued with her nursing career until retirement in 1989 and in 1996, Doreen & Arthur moved to a newly built home in the Pineridge area of Kamloops to spend their retirement years.

Doreen enjoyed various community activities, including involvement in the United Church, Choral Choir and Order of the Eastern Star. She was a prolific knitter, talented baker, watercolour painter and loved classical & choral music, often playing piano in her free time. She regularly travelled to Ireland to visit her mother, and in later years travelled to Costa Rica, Hawaii and several western US states.

No public service is planned, but the family request expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Royal Inland Hospital Foundation (Kamloops) or the Canadian Mental Health Association in honour of Doreen.

https://www.rihfoundation.ca/donate/

https://cmha.donordrive.com/?fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=561&language=en

Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Norman Orlan Johnson. Norman passed away at the age of 89 years at the Overlander Care Home in Kamloops, BC, on December 6, 2024, after a lengthy illness with dementia.

Norman was born on November 15, 1935, in Canwood, Saskatchewan. He was the fourth of seven children born to George and Lucy Johnson (née Head). He lived on the family homestead, helping to run the farm until he was about 20 years old, when the mountains and lakes of British Columbia called to him. He moved to Port Alberni, BC, where he worked at the Somass Sawmill as a carrier driver and eventually earned his millwright ticket.

In 1958, Norman met his future wife, Lena (née Ethier), whom he married on January 31, 1959, in Port Alberni, BC. Together, they had four children: Wanda, Darrel, Karen, and Brent.

In the spring of 1974, Norman and his family moved north to Houston, BC, where he worked in the sawmills and later co-owned a sawmill with other family members. They cut various sizes and types of lumber, with railroad ties being the most lucrative product. While the men cut the ties, the kids peeled them for 25 cents apiece.

Over the years, Norman became a skilled carpenter and built many houses for family and friends. He also worked on major construction projects, including the mines at Equity Silver in Houston and Bullmoose and Quintette Mines in Tumbler Ridge, BC.

Norman was an avid fisherman, both in the ocean and on lakes. He loved hauling in giant halibut and salmon, and his family enjoyed many feasts of crab, shrimp, and other seafood he caught. Camping was another of Norman’s passions, and he and Lena spent many happy years “boondocking” in the Arizona deserts with friends and family.

Norman retired at the age of 64 and enjoyed many years pursuing the activities he loved. In 2001, he and Lena fulfilled their dream of traveling across Canada in their motorhome. They especially cherished the atmosphere and friendliness of Newfoundland, stopping in small towns and enjoying lobster dinners in church basements. Over the years, Norman and Lena lived in several places, including Parksville, Qualicum, Nanaimo, Drumheller, and finally Kamloops, BC.

Norman is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lena; his children: Wanda (Rory) of Kamloops, BC, Darrel (Kim) of Prince George, BC, Karen (Brett) of Drumheller, AB, and Brent of Topley, BC; his grandchildren: Tanya of Kamloops, BC, Jason of Osa Village, Costa Rica, Serena, Ashley, and Ryan of Drumheller, AB; and his great-grandson, Jaxton of Richmond, BC. He is also survived by his brother, Ervin (Shirley) of Prince George, BC, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held privately by the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Norman’s name to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

Barb was born on April 25, 1937, in Beaverbank, NS, where she spent a happy childhood. She married the late Russell Snyder in June 1956, and together they built homes in various locations throughout Halifax and Hants County. She graduated as a Personal Care Worker in July 1985. In November 2015, she moved to Kamloops, BC, to be with her son.

In her younger years, Barb worked in factories and retail alongside her sisters. Later, she pursued a career as a Personal Care Worker, serving both in nursing home facilities and private care until her retirement.

Barb is survived by her son John, and daughter-in-law Helen Gamueda. She will be lovingly remembered and cherished by her grandson Nick, her two great-grandchildren, Declan and Reya, her ex-daughter-in-law Cheryl Snyder, her brothers Peter (Chris) and Murray, her sister-in-law Paulette, her nieces and nephews who she dearly loved, and the supportive friends she met while living on the West Coast.

She was predeceased by her husband Russell, her loving partner and best friend of 25 years; her first son Gary; her granddaughter Lyndsey; her parents Lila and John Shore; her siblings Elaine, Doreen, Helen, Carol, Velma, Maryanne, and Ronald; and her dear friend Bill Shay.

Barb enjoyed getting together with her siblings and their families, celebrating Christmas and other holidays. She also enjoyed bingo nights, dancing, baking, and taking immense pride in her home and gardens. Barb’s greatest memories were of her time with Russell: sharing their life journey, building homes, taking family trips, and simply being together.

Cremation will take place on Monday, December 9th, as she wished. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in Nova Scotia at a future date.

Condolences may be sent to the family from
www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com