Stanley William Cowan

With deep sadness and profound love, the family of Stanley William Cowan announce his passing at the age of 84. Born in a granary in Willen, Manitoba, on May 15, 1940, Stanley joined in heaven his father, William Cowan, mother, Elsie Cowan (nee Snell), sister, Enid Tebbutt and her husband, Orville on September 7, 2024.

Stanley will be remembered and deeply missed by his loving wife, Darlene; devoted daughters, Debbie (Debra) Schmidt and Tracy Sjoquist (Des); and much-loved grandchildren, Caius and Jadin Sjoquist. Stanley is also remembered by friend and mother of his children, Donna Downham, surviving siblings, Roy (Jeanette) and Keith (Fran), and his nieces and nephews, Valerie, Karen (Rick), Sheri, Cary (Michelle), Garth (Connie), Carley, and Michelle. Some of Stan's lifelong friends were Harvey Jamieson, Barry Dumbleton, and Mel and Mary Schumacher.

Stanley grew up poor in the town of Moosomin, Saskatchewan, and this fueled his desire to succeed in everything he did. His team proudly won the Saskatchewan Championship in midget hockey for his town, he won lead roles in high school plays, became president of his graduating class, and excelled in all his courses without doing homework. While Stan's combination of intelligence, stubbornness (no euphemistic 'strong-willed' here!), creativity, and competitiveness created a successful leader of him in his youth, he was also full of spit and vigor….tipping over outhouses, TP'ing houses at Halloween, and getting into other mischief as a member of the neighbourhood 'Picadilly Gang'. His nickname, Grizzly Grumbleguts the Snake Charmer, evolved from his daring, his craftiness…..and his great fear of snakes!

Following graduation, Stan was proud to become a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and went on to take courses that propelled him toward his career in international banking. Early in his career, he married Donna (Gauld) and two daughters were born four years apart, Debbie and Tracy. Throughout his career, Stan was offered promotions if he would start up new branches in a variety of cities, so the young family moved, and moved, and moved! Stan's career took him from Winnipeg to Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Halifax, Windsor (England), and Vancouver, before finally settling (for a time) in the Okanagan where his girls finished off their schooling in Westbank, BC. During these years, Stan worked for Household Finance, Niagara Finance, IAC, and the Bank of Montreal, with a short interval as a small business owner—Stan was the first owner of Glenrosa Market. Stan's fun-loving, generous nature, and irreverent sense of humour encouraged others to let loose and have a good time. Family gatherings and block parties with Stan in attendance were always guaranteed to be entertaining and merry!

Stan enjoyed recreational travel and saw the likes of Prince Edward Island, Scotland, France, Holland, Spain, Monaco, and Switzerland. His love of history and regard for knowledge meant that every place the family lived or visited was an opportunity for learning—from encountering windmills, to forts and castles, to the beaches of D-Day. Stan learned the importance of each landmark or event and shared its significance with family members, leaving a lasting impression on daughter, Tracy, and influencing her love for exploring the world. Stan's passion for learning also found its place at the family dinner table, where each evening Jeopardy played out long before the game show existed. Later, with the support of her husband, Des, Tracy would instill the love of learning and travel in her own boys, Dad's cherished grandchildren, Caius and Jadin.

Besides his delight with travel, Stan loved sports, nature, and the arts. He enjoyed fishing and boating and was an avid curler and golfer, winning trophies for two 'hole in ones' on the course, and numerous awards for curling. Had Stan not been a banker, his profession should have been in the arts. His love for theatre, writing and poetry, and music were immeasurable. As a younger man, many suggested that he should have worked in radio. His 'Stan the Man' voice was either music to one's ears.....or put the fear of God in you! He loved to listen to music and play guitar, but more than anything, he loved to sing. Roger Whittaker, Glen Campbell, and Willie Nelson had nothing on him. Stan also loved nature, and National Geographic was often on his television. Home always included at least one beloved pet. And, this was the apple that fell from Stan's tree and landed on daughter, Debbie—the undeniable love of animals shared through their lifetime together. When he no longer had pets later in life, Stan loved Debbie's pets as though his own.

Following several tumultuous and sad years following the demise of his marriage to Donna, Stan wrote the happy ending to his own book when he moved to Vancouver's lower mainland and met Darlene. She was clever and shared his wittiness, and Stan fell deeply for her. They married and sailed off into the sunsets of Mexico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean, and throughout their three decades together, Stan and Darlene shared laughs, gaffes, and enduring love.

Stan took pride in his life and what it gave to him, and aside from the pride he had for his Royal Doulton figurines, hand-carved Swiss clock, gilded-paged Winston Churchill books, and 50 year-old bottles of British Devon Mead (yes, he truly loved these!), Stan's true pride and joy were his daughters, Debbie and Tracy. Whatever he did in life, he did so that they would have far more than he had growing up. Stan was a man of sentimental spirit who loved deeply and completely. He marched to the beat of his own drum always, even to the end of his days. And, as he marched he sang, and, Danny Boy, did he sing.

We'll look for you when we join you in heaven, Stan, and we'll find you through your song.      

~Our love forever and always~

Thanks go to Dr M Banwell for his dedicated care over many years and to Brookhaven Care Centre for the compassion, care and respect shown to Stanley in his final year of life.

In Stanley's memory and in lieu of flowers, kindly consider giving to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and/or the BC SPCA or Okanagan Humane Society.

Stanley will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

The family will hold a celebration to honour his life at a later date.