Passed away peacefully, but unexpectedly on March 1, 2026. At the age of 90. Leo was born in Vermillion, Alberta on August 8, 1935. Predeceased by his father, Vester, mother Polly, son Jimmy, wife Pat, and step-grandchildren Matt and Eric. He will be missed by his son, Dale, daughter Vickey (Howard), daughter in law Leah, and grandchildren, Derrick, Nick, Luke and Ryland, brothers Gordon and Ronny, and many extended family members, friends and colleagues in Canada and the US.
He spent his youth in Alberta, hunting and fishing and enjoying the outdoors, before moving west to Victoria with Bob Pettigrew, where he met Bob’s sister Pat and her amazing and large family. He started working building doors at Crowe-Gonnason Sash and Door. He then moved to BCFP, working first in the mill, then as Assistant Sales Manager in Victoria, then Sales Manager in Youbou. He ended his ‘working’ career as a lumber broker for B and L Lumber in Duncan. He never stopped working, instead he spent hours building doors for family, friends and clients in his workshop in Maple Bay. He worked in his shop just about until the end.
In 1970, Leo and Pat purchased a lot on Kemp Lake, where they built a cabin and enjoyed many years enjoying the lake, fishing, windsurfing, horseshoe and dart games and socializing with the other families on the lake. He loved to travel, whether taking family to Disneyland, Cuba, Mexico, or adventures with his friends Mike, Don or his cousin Brian. In his later years he stopped hunting and fishing, but never stopped enjoying nature, whether trips to the bush for firewood, swims in Beaver Lake (near Lake Cowichan), or feeding and watching his beloved quails in his backyard.
In the words of Toby Keith, he ‘Did not let the Old Man In’.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, on Friday, April 17th at 2:00 pm.
Flowers gratefully declined.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Patricia
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Rob Christison I worked with Leo at BC Forest Products in the Victoria sales office for many years. Along with his industry knowledge, Leo was an outstanding woodworker who set an impressive standard for everything he created. It was extraordinary that he was able to continue sourcing materials and creating his masterpieces past his 90th birthday. Years ago I was lucky enough to join him on a few hunting trips and to enjoy some time with Leo & Pat at their Kemp Lake cabin. I also had the pleasure of working on a mutual project in his well-equipped workshop. We kept in touch over the years and I am happy that I called him a friend. I just spoke to him a few months ago. It was a pleasure to reminisce and he always spoke so highly of his kids. He was an extremely capable man. He will be missed.
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Russ Bradshaw Sad to see Leo go, had some good laughs, while ordering more doors. Want to let the family know the last door order he did was for my own house so I’ll be thinking of him for at least the next ten years To bad I couldn’t put a pic in this offering.
I became pat and Leo’s neighbour in 1987 and have ever since received firewood from him even though I have moved several times. the last time was February of this year. we always spent time chatting. I will miss him.
Patricia