Clarence A. Kaetler passed away at Pleasant Valley Manor on April 21, 2008 at the age of 84. A celebration of life memorial will be held at 1 pm on May 2, 2008 at the Mara Community Hall for anyone wanting to drop by.
Born in Gretna, Manitoba on April 20, 1924, Clarence was the fourth of eleven children. He quit school after grade six to go to work. When the family moved to Menisino, MB three of the oldest boys, Leonard, Clarence and Art worked cutting cord word and playing local dances to earn money for the family. After leaving home to work for his brother-in-law threshing in Saskatchewan, Clarence met Elsie Collis. Clarence helped move his parents and siblings out to Aldergrove, BC where the family settled. In July 1948 Clarence and Elsie married and began a small homestead in Aldergrove where two sons were born. With the logging boom they moved north to Quesnel for a short while, before moving on to Prince George where two daughters were born. Clarence worked as a carpenter, first in house construction, then for the PG Pulp and Paper mill. In 1975, he and his wife and youngest daughter moved to Salmon Arm in semi-retirement. In 1978 they moved again to Mara where he is well remembered for all the work he did throughout the community. Clarence remained in Mara after his wife’s passing until 2005 when he moved into Oakside Manor. In 2007 he moved to PV Manor where he was well cared for by all the staff.
He was predeceased by his son Brian, his wife Elsie and his grandson Neil. Clarence will be lovingly remembered by his son Douglas (Sharlene) Kaetler, daughters Lorraine (Roy) Holgate and Vivian (Brett) Ogino, granddaughters Shannon, Colleen and Koreen and their families.
Condolences may be sent to
sympathy@bowersfuneralservice.com