William Oliver (Bill) Blomquist passed away peacefully in Cottonwoods Care Centre, Kelowna, BC on the evening of July 5, 2017 at the age of 90 years.
A celebration of life service was held from the Malakwa Elementary School on Saturday morning, July 15th at 11 a.m. with Jack Bowers the funeral celebrant. Tributes were shared by family and friends, including the three children, Bruce, Christine and Kent.
Interment followed in the family plot at Malakwa Community Cemetery.
A reception followed back in the school allowing the family and friends to continue sharing memories of Bill.
Born in Revelstoke, BC on March 17, 1927 to a very loving family, mother Kristina, father Jonas, sisters, Karen, Anne and Brother Walter. His parents were true pioneers of Malakwa, having stepped off the train into fresh snow at Malakwa in November of 1923.
His early years required work in various locations in the Province, returning to Malakwa in his early 20’s to begin a long career and partnership with his brother Walter with ‘Blomquist Brothers Logging’. They both became leaders in the community, always helping out with whatever needed done, including being the major employer in the area for decades. Blwalt Holdings developed a subdivision and donated land to the community, including the land for the Community Hall and Firehall. In his later years he moved to Kelowna and more recently resided in Cottonwoods where he enjoyed the social life, happy hours on Friday afternoons and was recently able to Celebrate his 90th birthday with the caring staff and his family.
Predeceased by his brother and best friend, Walter, sisters, Anne Condy and Karen Cochrane.
Bill leaves his loving and dedicated family, wife, Astrid, children, Bruce (Kip) of Malakwa, Christine (Leo) of Kelowna, Kent (Kiran) of Calgary; 6 grandchildren, Bryan, Kristy, Aiden, Spencer, Carson and Jack; and 1 great grandson.
The family extend a big thank you to the staff at Cottonwoods and Doctor Willie Mackle for their great care and compassion.
On line condolences may be sent to Bill’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com
Funeral arrangements were in the care of Bowers Funeral Home and Crematorium, Salmon Arm.