In loving memory of Douglas
“Fireman Dug” Allan Knelsen, who passed away peacefully at home with his wife Linda Knelsen (Nee Godard), daughter Karen, and son Daniel, close by his side. Doug came into this world on January 11, 1960 and traded it for heaven on the morning of August 15, 2009 after a hard battle with
pancreatic cancer.
Doug, an active member of the Oliver Volunteer Fire Department (OFD), will be dearly missed by family – sister Lorna (Henry)
Janzen, sister Sharon (Hannu) Yliruusi, father John Knelsen
(mother Betty, 1941 – February 1999), and many in-laws, uncles,
aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, fire family at OFD and the
community of Oliver as a whole. Doug left a lasting impression of kindness, generosity and humour on everyone who knew him and his love for life was evident in the way he lived it. Born in Saskatchewan, Doug attended high school in Hope, B.C. After
graduation, he moved to the Surrey area where he met Linda and married her in 1980. Together they started a family with a daughter in 1982 and added a son in 1984. In 1996 the Knelsen family moved to Oliver, B.C. where Doug became an active member of the community through slo-pitch, various ministries at the Oliver Alliance Church, the Crime Watch program and eventually the fire department. The Knelsen family would like to thank everybody who has conveyed their thoughts, prayers and support in an effort to comfort us during this difficult time of loss. We know Doug is in a better place and are grateful his suffering has ended, though the hurt of this loss feels immeasurable.
A celebration of Doug’s life was held at the Oliver Alliance Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2009 with a reception following at the Oliver Volunteer Fire Department. Tributes and condolences may be directed to the family by visiting: www.nunes-pottinger.com
Arrangements entrusted to Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service &
Crematorium, Oliver & Osoyoos, BC.