Dennis Peter Nick Samila passed away on Tuesday, April 7th, 2020. Dad passed peacefully at home with his loving wife Lillian Samila by his side, while holding his hand. Cancer took its toll on Dad and sadly took him too early from all of us.

Dennis was predeceased by his sisters Elsie, Madaline, and brother Terry.

Dennis is survived by his six children, Nadine, David, Brian, Tami, Dean, and Shawn, as well as his eleven grandchildren, Jake, Cassidy, Payton, Brooklyn, Evan, Mitchel, Jacob, Lachlan, Piper, David, and Nicholas.

Dennis was born in 1943, in the small town of Porcupine Plains, Saskatchewan. He moved to Kamloops in the early 60’s where he remained for the rest of his life. Dad worked for the City of Kamloops for 38 years before he retired. He went back to work doing various odd jobs before joining the Wal-Mart team as a shipper receiver. 

One of Dad’s real passions was working with mom in their Ceramic shop. Dad loved casting new things for mom to paint. When people would come to the shop, dad would show off the latest project mom had completed. To him they weren’t just customers, they were friends too. That really defines dad. He loved to talk with everyone. He put everyone at ease the moment he met them. His eyes where pure kindness, his touch was gentle, and his outlook very positive. Dad always had some wisdom to impart to all. Dad was an amazing husband, father, co-worker, friend, neighbor, and animal lover. 

He will be missed by all who knew him.

This is to advise people of the visitation with family and funeral.

On Thursday September 24^th a visitation with family will be held at Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Dr., from 5pm -7pm. On Friday, September 25 the Graham family invites you to join in a Funeral worship service. To accommodate all who wish to attend there will be three service times offered that afternoon. Please contact the Hills of Peace church office @ 250-828-2221 or office@hillsofpeace.com to confirm your attendance and receive the details for the service you will attend.

We wish to announce the unexpected passing of Norman Bruce W. Graham on April 7, 2020.   He leaves to mourn his loss his wife of 54 years Ina, his daughters Rebecca (Remi Rheault) and Samantha; grandsons David (14) and Michael (12), his sisters Ruth and Ann (Al Keeting)

He is predeceased by his parents Norman and Martha Graham, his brother John Graham (Olive).  Due to COVID-19, funeral arrangements will be delayed until the family can gather.  In the interim Norman Bruce will be cremated and burial service to follow.

Throughout his life he drove transport, worked as a body mechanic both with the Toronto Transit Commissions, and various garages in the 1960’s.  He was service manager for McPherson Motors in North Bay in the 1970’s, as well as in Hamilton in the 1980’s.  He helped in the development of proto type underground mining machinery for Jarvis Clarke in both North Bay and Burlington, late 70’s and early 80’s.  He had many happy years in Accident Appraisal throughout Northwestern Ontario in the 90’s, and concluded his career with Security Services in Kamloops and at the airport in the 21^st Century.

He enjoyed the great outdoors – hunting, fishing, sailing, canoeing, swimming, driving, skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, camping and the quiet life.

Bruce, aka Dad, aka Poppa will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

With great sadness, the family of Oscar Sparks announces his passing on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in Kamloops. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret, children Robert Sparks, Angie (Bret) Mavety, Candace Mavety (all of Kamloops) and Clinton Mavety, of Burnaby, 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and his brother, Dave Sparks of Surrey. Oscar was predeceased by his daughter Evonne, his parents, Benjamin and Jean, and two siblings.

Oscar was born on May 26, 1939 in New Westminster. He was a Longshoreman for 42 years. Oscar and Margaret were married on June 20, 2009. He enloyed visiting close friends, walking, movies, and dinners with the family.

A Celebration of Oscar’s life will be held at a later date.

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 100^th 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.  

It is with great sadness that the family of Jim (James) Walter LINNEN announces his passing after a year-long fight with Cancer, on Thursday, March 26^th , 2020, at the age of 68. Jim will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 40 years, Rhonda and his children Jeff (Janna) and Amanda (Vance). Jim will also be fondly remembered by his 6 grandchildren Jenna, Lily, Mary Kate, Jayde, Siera and Kennedy. Jim was predeceased by his parents Roy and Jean LINNEN and his brother Wayne LINNEN.

Due to the current situation with COVID-19 a celebration of life for Jim will be held at a later date which is to be determined. In lieu of flowers those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Jim to the Kamloops Hospice Association can do so by visiting the following link:https://www.kamloopshospice.com/index.php/contribute/donate/