SWAIN, Herb
November 18, 1935 - June 12, 2016
It is with deep sadness that we the family of Herbert Vivian Swain, announce that he died on Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 80 years old. His memory will be cherished by all who knew and dearly loved him. Born in Hope, BC, Herb was a tinkerer at heart, and became a carpenter by trade at a young age. A few years after marrying Marie Forsberg in 1957, the young couple began building their lifelong family home after work and on weekends, eventually seeing it become the setting for each of their three daughters' weddings. As a natural leader, he quickly progressed in the construction industry, becoming a project superintendent by the time he was 30. As his daughters approached their teens, he started his own construction company. Specializing in concrete, he applied his skill as far east as Marathon, Ontario and as far north as Kitimat, creating the vital infrastructure that will serve generations. Whether it was a patio or a mega project, he took tremendous pride in each and every venture and enjoyed pointing many of them out on drives with his grandchildren. Herb also gave much of his time, volunteering with the Hope Fire Department and the Hope Search and Rescue. He vividly remembered the calls for rescue into the mountains to locate the victims of plane and vehicle crashes and of the Hope Slide in 1963. Building - fisheries, bridges, hydro projects, residential homes - and family was what he cared about and lived for. He shared his deep knowledge of everything-woodworking, area forests and creeks, local history, fishing lures, how to pour concrete or a beer, graciously and often. His wife Marie, daughters Diana (Jim) Skoglund, Linda (Glen) McIntyre, Lori (Rob) Isbister, his grandchildren Cameron, Ben, Brian and Sarah, his siblings and many nieces and nephews are going to miss his sharp wit and (he'd want us to mention) his dashing good looks. Through the years, Herb would often thumb a worn copy of Robert Service's poems. From his place at the kitchen table, with a clear view of Mt. Outram, he'd read; … he wore a smile you could see a mile, … "Please close that door. It's fine in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm." A celebration of life for Herb will be held Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 1 p.m. in the Hope Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.