In loving memory ~
Martin passed away five weeks after being diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Dad was grateful that he could be at home, had time to settle his affairs and say loving goodbyes to family and friends.
Martin first came to the Shuswap from the coast in 1957 with his mother Dagny Lindberg and his sister Lila. They lived at Spes Bona, now Sorrento Centre, where Martin and Lila worked the orchard while going to high school, until they relocated to an acreage overlooking the Adams River.
After years of adventuring around the province in the early days of his forestry career, Martin met Eldene Lundborg while working as a forest ranger in the Bridge River Valley, and they married in 1968. Hiking and camping, playing and coaching softball, curling and hunting, with annual trips to the PNE and the Queen E Theatre, they raised their two daughters all over southern BC as Martin followed his career trajectory. He had a strong passion for teamwork in his roles, whether managing district operations or working with First Nations on forestry projects, and was in his element as Project Fire Boss in wildland firefighting.
Martin brought his family back to the acreage on the Shuswap in 1985, where they built a hobby farm. Dad remained here for forty years, supporting community as a volunteer firefighter and continuing to work as a private contractor after retiring from the Forest Service in 1996. He worked seasonally with the Kamloops Fire Centre, and facilitated watershed recovery programs around the Shuswap. He continued building more homes and outbuildings around the acreage over the years, and helped all of us with our building projects too. Mom and Dad parted ways but remained friends.
Always the adventurer, Dad spent twenty-five years exploring the continent on many different motorcycles, and enjoyed years of travelling and companionship with his close friend Noreen and her family. He was active in the model railroad and Rod & Gun clubs, and in the local coffee circuit.
Martin is survived by his two daughters, Erin and Cheryl, former wife Eldene, granddaughter Jade, close friend Noreen Roy and family, sister Lila (Dick RIP) Abbott, nephew Richard (Kris), niece Leanne (Jason) Rustad, great-nephews, and longtime friends.
Private family gatherings will be held as per Martin's request.
We hope you are riding that red Harley Softail again and rattling the coffee cups at the next cafe, Dad!
To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.bowersfuneralservice.com.