Daniel Willard Kerr

Daniel W. Kerr, of Westbank, passed at Kelowna General Hospital on 12th April, 2019 at the age of 82. He was born in Brantford Ontario and moved with his family to the Okanagan in 1969, settling in Peachland and then to Westbank in 1994. He was predeceased by his wife, Ksenia, in 2014. He is survived by his daughters, Kim (John) Fenton and three granddaughters, and Kari Kerr (John Luczi), his sister Shirley Melnick of Kelowna and her family, as well as several cousins and nieces and nephews. Dan was in the RCAF in France, where he met his wife Ksenia. Their first daughter was born in France, and after moving to Ontario they eventually settled in Brantford where another daughter was born.

He was active in the Royal Canadian Legion and was a lifetime member. He coached senior men’s softball and took his team, the Schneider Logging Reds, to more than one championship game. He often said his favourite job was working in the bush and spoke fondly of the years he spent driving logging truck around British Columbia. He had many jobs that he loved, notably working with C & G Insulation as well as being in business with friends over the years. He spent many hours working on Sunrise House, a shelter for homeless teenagers in Grande Prairie. He loved doing that work, renovating and hammering, and we had to make him go home to get some rest. He was well known around Westbank for many years as he walked every day, and volunteered with the Legion Poppy Fund and canvassed for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He also had a special place in his heart for people with disabilities.

A small gathering of friends and family will be held at 3pm at Lakeview Place, 3767 Brown Road, on Saturday 20th April. Please come and share stories, and eat some of Dan’s favourite foods, none of which are low-calorie.

Dad grew a deep and abiding faith over the last years of his life and spent many hours studying the bible. We found this poem in his things and it seems a fitting tribute:

“When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room,

Why cry for a soul set free.

For this is the journey we all must take;

And each must go alone.

It’s all part of the Master’s plan

A step in the road to home.”

Rest in Peace, Dad.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Special Olympics BC https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/DonationPage.aspx?eventid=229153,

by mail to: 3701 Hastings St, Unit 210, Burnaby, BC V5C 2H6

To your local legion in Dad’s memory, or to:

The Royal Canadian Legion
Dominion Command
86 Aird Place
Ottawa, ON K2L 0A1