On Oct. 16, 2005 Alfred Henry Graffunder passed away peacefully at home, after 87 great years.
He was born April 23, 1918 at Chinook Cove, British Columbia in the North Thompson Valley.
Alfred’s family lived in Chinook Cove in the early 1920s and later moved to Lucerne in the late 1920s, where his father was the Section Foreman for the Canadian National Railways.
In the early 1930s the Graffunder family, which had grown to 10 children, moved to Vavenby and lived at the CN station house.
In 1935 the family bought Peavine Ranch, and through the depression and war years they farmed, raised hay using a horse-powered baler, logged, shipped milk and cream, raised pig, and even grew some grain.
In 1951 Alfred and Solveig were married and they lived at Peavine Ranch, on the lower section by the railroad tracks and the river, fondly known as “down below.”
They lived there for eight years and had two children, Linda and Bernie. In 1959 they bought more land from Bob Metcalfe and created Peavine Ranch as it is today. Hilda, George and Wendy arrived, and Alfred continued to clear land and farm.
Alfred loved farm life and he loved Peavine Ranch. The North Thompson Valley was his world and it gave him tremendous joy and satisfaction to live there. He enjoyed family life and community life. He was an active member of the Vavenby Community Club, the Upper North Thompson Livestock Association, and he was a member of the Lions Club for over 30 years.
In 1987 Alfred and Solveig “retired” from the ranch and moved to Clearwater.
He was predeceased by parents Margaret and Karl Graffunder, his sister Ruth Heck, and his brother Hans Graffunder. Alfred is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Solveig Graffunder; two sons Bernie (Robin) Graffunder of Vavenby, and George (Charlene) Graffunder of Calgary; three daughters Linda (Raymond) Best of Calgary, Hilda (Allen) Zietsov of Clearwater and Wendy (Frank) Wolever of Calgary.
Alfred is also survived by 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service was held on Friday, Oct. 21 2005 at the Clearwater Legion.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital in Clearwater.
Service arrangements are entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service.