It is with great sadness that the Takenaka family shares the passing of Toshio “Tosh” Takenaka. Tosh passed away peacefully on July 22, 2024, at the age of 95 years, with family by his bedside.
Tosh was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his wife of 69 years—Frances “Fran”; children Randy (Keiko), Wendy (Dale), Lana (Dan); grandchildren Shanna (Dustin), Taryn (Matt), Tasha (Chris), Travis (Cyndi), Jeffrey (Sarah), Kristen (David); great grandchildren Preston, Cruz, Riley, Austin, Macklen, Kinzley; siblings Miyo (living in Japan), Mich (Ken), Kaz (Tony), Butch (Joan); and many in-laws, nephews, and nieces.
Tosh was born on May 29, 1929 in Vancouver, BC. His father relocated the family, traveling by train to Kamloops, to avoid being interned. Tosh spent his younger years orchard picking, working in construction and in the mines, and later working for the Post Office where he retired after 32 years (1953-1985) of service. He resided in Kamloops for his entire married life where he and Fran raised the family in their home of 69 years—the house that he and his father built along with Assistant Contractor Fran.
Tosh enjoyed playing hockey and baseball in his younger years, but golf became his biggest sports passion (a love that filtered down to his son and grandsons). Tosh was an avid golfer and was the longest Kamloops Golf and Country Club member. At 90 years, Tosh still refused to take a golf cart and would walk the 18 holes.
Tosh dedicated himself to his family and worked hard to provide for them. He cherished and took great pride in his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was also a devoted husband—at 95 years, he was still determined to take care of his wife and rejected outside help with cleaning, caregiving, cooking, and gardening. Tosh will also be remembered for being very meticulous about his lawn—continuing to mow it himself, even at his advanced age of 95.
Tosh will be missed deeply, but his memory will be in our hearts forever.
The Takenaka family would like to express their appreciation to all those who took care of Tosh and supported him and the family. Tosh wished to be cremated and, per his request, there will be no service.
Dave Pollard passed away peacefully with his family and friends by his side, in Kamloops BC, on August 3rd , 2024 at the age of 92.
His memory will be cherished by his son Bobby (Stephen) Pollard of Langley, grandsons Jason Pollard of Vancouver and Christopher (Katina) of Tumbler Ridge, daughter Shelly Nelson of Calgary, grandchildren Nikki (Dave) McDonald, Christina (Kris) Nelson, Michelle (Jack) Nelson, great granddaughters Keira and Kaylee, great grandson, Ollie, brothers Gerry Pollard and Gordon (Sharon) Pollard and sister Frances (Brent) Yasuda , companion Joyce Davidson, cousins Eileen and Randy Ambler, along with close friends Nimfa, Eddie and Jorden Mendoza-Valenzuela.
Dave was predeceased by the love of his life, Helen, his beloved daughter, Debbie (Ken), his parents Thomas and Helen, and brother Bruce.
Dave was born on January 16th, 1932, in Williams Lake, the oldest of five siblings. At the age of six years old, Dave’s family moved to the Pollard Ranch in Clinton. He left home after he completed grade seven to start his first job, building Hwy #1 from Williams Lake to the Port Mann Bridge. He also worked in Kitimat building the Aluminum Plant, as well as the Dew Line and Radar Line. He married Helen Ruckle on May, 20th, 1954. They traveled throughout BC for Dave’s construction work and then settled in Savona, BC in 1960. Dave started work as a mechanic at West Coast Transmission while Helen started the first kindergarten program in Savona. Dave retired in 1982. In retirement, he and Helen contracted the yard maintenance from West Coast transmission and then moved to Kamloops in 2010.
Dave lived his best life, simple and unassuming. He enjoyed keeping in touch with his family and friends. He loved to visit both in person and on the phone. He always made time for everyone. He enjoyed music and theatre. He loved to share the success of his grandson’s and looked for ways to support them as they found their way in the world. He will be fondly remembered for quality of caring, sharing and his willingness to help others before himself. He had a quiet strength that made him both gentle and solid. He’s passed on these qualities to everyone that was lucky enough to spend time with him.
The family would like to thank Dr. Mavis Hollman, the wonderful staff at Trinity Hospice for the amazing care they gave to Dave and to Eileen Ambler for her support since the passing of Helen. She has truly been Dave’s earth angel.
A Celebration of Life for Dave will be held at 11am on Sunday, August 25th, 2024 in the Kamloops Funeral Home Chapel (285 Fortune Drive). Inurnment will take place at the Savona Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations can be made in Dave’s memory to the Canadian Lung Association.
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Kirstin Wendy Munro.
Kirstin will always be remembered as a loving daughter, mother, sister, grand daughter, auntie and friend to many.
She was born in Maple Ridge, BC on April 15, 1991. Born to take on the world, she saw lots of it and met many good friends. Always with a smile on her face and dressed beautifully, Kirstin was truly the smartest, kindest, most beautiful soul. We are grateful for the 33 years we were blessed with by her presence.
Predeceased by her sister Jennifer, Kirstin is survived by her children Jayme and Bentley, her mother Shelley Munro, her grandparents Bruce and Wendy Huddlestone and her siblings Kasey, Chelsie and Colton. She is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Lois Scott passed away peacefully, with her family at her side, in Kamloops, BC, on June 20, 2024 at the age of 85.
Lois is survived by her children, Brenda (Jeff) Wills, Darrell, and Kevin (Ann) Scott of Kamloops as well as her sister, Clarice Currie of Langdon, Alberta. She will be dearly missed by her grandchildren, Brooke, McKenzie, Lane, and Brett Wills, Logan (Nicola Tabata) and Ethan Scott.
Lois was predeceased by her husband, Meredith (Sam) Scott (2020); granddaughter, Jenna Wills (2002); Mother, Hanna (Mary) Welburn (1983); Father, Clarence Welburn (1985); sisters Lorraine Mundy (1964); Dorothy Crha (2011); Phyllis (Corky) Kenyon (2011); brothers Dwayne Welburn (1940); Everett Welburn (1988); Devone (Boney) Welburn (2014).
Lois was born November 14, 1938 on a very cold day in Nipawin, Saskatchewan to Clarence and Hanna Welburn. When she was just 5 years old, the family moved to Mission, BC to enjoy the warmer climate and beautiful mountains.
In 1957 she took a job with BC Tel, and moved to Kamloops. It was there she met the love of her life, Sam, at a local hockey game. Lois and Sam were wed on June 27, 1964, and together they raised 3 children. Lois stayed home and looked after the children, but worked part time at Canada Post during Christmas, where she could make extra money to help with Christmas presents. When her children were in high school, she returned to work, working for the Kamloops Daily News until her retirement. Her home was always open and bustling, as they billeted Kamloops Rockets and Kamloops Chiefs junior hockey players throughout the 1970’s. Lois took on a lot of volunteer roles as well. She was active with Red Cross, volunteered at all her children’s school events on hot dog days, field trips, or driving to their many sporting events. She volunteered with Kamloops Minor Hockey and was involved with billeting homes for the Kamloops Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament, which occurred every spring. Lois would also work for Elections Canada during both provincial and federal elections and would canvass the neighbourhood for various charities.
Most of Lois’s summers were spent camping at Shuswap Lake from the 1960’s to the 1990’s with friends and family. When Sam and Lois retired, they bought a motorhome and traveled across Canada and to Alaska. The highlight of the cross Canada trip for Lois was stopping in Saskatchewan to catch up with aunts, uncles and cousins. Lois spent a lot of time with her grandchildren. When her grandsons, Logan and Ethan were younger, she would cheer them on at the hockey rink and, as they became young adults, she enjoyed their visits, and family dinners at their house. Lois loved to watch her granddaughters, Brooke, McKenzie, Lane, and Brett, rodeo throughout British Columbia. She was their biggest fan and would cheer loud and proud at every rodeo. The girls spent many hours chatting with Grandma on the phone, while they travelled to their rodeos she would always tell them “to have fun and enjoy the moment”. Grandma especially loved having all of her grandchildren together and she would treat them to her famous ‘dough gods’.
Lois charmed most people with her kind heart, sense of humour, and blunt, sassy remarks. She was able to speak her mind freely and was always up for a good time. She was a hard worker and was always willing to help out in any situation. Lois liked to enjoy an ice cold glass of beer, and was up for a cold one at any time. “Here’s to looking at ya!”, she would say. Lois was the same cheeky, feisty, person, with the ability to make people laugh right up until her final days with us.
Until we meet again Mom & Grandma. We love you!
A Celebration of Life for both Lois and Sam with be held in Kamloops on August 29th, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Hal Rogers Centre, 2025 Summit Drive (Albert McGowan Park).
Dad always said they broke the mould when he was born and after all these years we realize he was right.
Meredith Samuel Scott (Sam) was born March 10, 1938 in Kamloops, BC, to Norman Thomas Scott and Isabella Anderson Forsyth Watson Scott.
On December 26, 2020, after what he often referred to as “a great life”, Sam passed away suddenly in his beloved home of 50 years.
Sam was predeceased by his father, Norman Scott (1945), mother, Isabella Scott (1990), sister, Maureen Baerg (1997) and granddaughter, Jenna Wills (2002).
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lois, his children, Brenda (Jeff) Wills, Darrell, and Kevin (Ann) Scott of Kamloops. He will be remembered by his grandchildren, Brooke, McKenzie, Lane, and Brett Wills, Logan (Nicola Tabata) and Ethan Scott.
Sam was a proud North Kamloops man, living his whole life on the North Shore. Sam’s family owned S.S. Scott & Sons ice business, where they harvested ice blocks from the South Thomson River and local lakes for the delivery to the residents of Kamloops. Sam’s family owned various properties throughout Kamloops, including the former icehouses near Pioneer Park and property along the north shores of the Thompson River, where his family home stands to this day.
Sam was a career firefighter for the North Kamloops Fire Department beginning in October of 1965. After the amalgamation of the city, he continued with Kamloops Fire & Rescue and retired as Assistant Fire Chief in June 1996.
Family was most important to Sam. In the early family days, many miles were put on his 1965 yellow GMC pickup and Vanguard camper, travelling with friends and family throughout BC. All three of his children learned to drive in that yellow truck and the family still owns it to this day. As his children grew up, many summer days were spent either boating on the South Thompson River or camping at the Cinnemousun Narrows on Shuswap Lake. Many hours were spent floating in the boat as he taught his kids how to waterski and enjoy his goofy jokes. In the winter months, Sam would build a skating rink in the backyard, and each morning he would get up early to flood the rink, making sure it was perfectly smooth for his children and the neighbourhood kids to enjoy. The odd puck, breaking a window, was testament to a good time on the ice.
Sam loved to putter in his garden and many meals were filled with the vegetables that he grew in his backyard. Sam and Lois enjoyed home canning. Sam would stand for hours in the kitchen peeling peaches or pickling pickles, helping Lois can and process every known fruit and vegetable to man.
He was an avid hockey fan and held season tickets over the years to the Kamloops Rockets, Chiefs, and Blazers. When he couldn’t attend a game in person, he would watch from his home computer.
Sam’s home was always welcoming and he opened and invited many to stay if needed. For many years his home was bustling with activity from the junior hockey players they billeted with the Kamloops Rockets and Chiefs in the 1970’s, to the many nieces and nephews that were always welcome to stay or share a meal with Uncle Sam and Auntie Lois.
In retirement, Sam and Lois bought a motorhome and travelled across Canada and to Alaska. Sam loved planes, trains, and automobiles and they stopped at every train and plane museum he could find. Poor Lois. They had a wonderful trip and were able to reconnect with many family members in Saskatchewan and Ontario.
Sam was a man of many talents and was able to fix and build many things. He helped renovate houses, build furniture, and used his skills as a former auto body repairman and his mechanical ability to restore his mom’s 1961 Pontiac Tempest. Sam put in extra hours working on the Tempest to get the car ready for his grandson, Ethan, to drive at his graduation. He took great pride in showing the car in the Easter parade and at Hot Night in the City.
Sam was devoted to his grandchildren. He would be at the arenas for early morning hockey games and would travel long distances to watch his granddaughters’ rodeo, and his favourite horse, Cactus, compete. Sam was able to travel to Red Deer in 2019 and was very proud to see his granddaughter, Brooke, win the Canadian Barrel Racing title. It truly was his last rodeo.
Sam was kind and patient, and always had something interesting to talk about.
He truly felt he was fortunate and enjoyed the simple things in life. He was a glass “half full” kind of guy. He had an amazing memory of days gone by and could tell you anything you wanted to know about Kamloops. Sam often referred to the area as “God’s Country” and he truly believed it was. He loved to talk about his adventures growing up in Kamloops involving his family and friends. He loved to share his knowledge of the people and area. Everyone will miss listening to his stories and spending time with him. Thank you for being a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Until we meet again, we love you and will miss you.
The family would like to thank Dr. Cribb for her care and kindness. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Sam’s memory, to the Kamloops Fire & Rescue Charitable Society.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Sam and Lois Scott in Kamloops on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 1:00pm at the Hal Rogers Centre, 2025 Summit Drive (Albert McGowan Park).
