FRANK STECK
Nov 4, 1923 - Feb 2, 2009
It is with great sadness in our hearts that we announce the passing of our Step Dad (Pops), father-in-law, husband, brother, uncle, grandfather and great granddad and friend, Frank Steck. Frank passed on Monday, Feb 2, 2009 at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home in Kamloops, BC. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Marbel Steck; six sisters and two brothers; his first wife, Catherine; and his second wife, Glady's. He is survived by two stepdaughters, Colleen (Robert) Jensen of Avola and Kathleen Herns of Clearwater; brother Herb (Ann) Steck of Edson Alberta; sisters Freda of Edmonton Alberta, and Edith (Braxton) Brown of Missoula, Montana; grandchildren Jeneen, Alanna, Dale, Tommy Frank, Cyril, Corrinna, Kevin, Karen and Christopher; and great grandchildren Tavis (Bobo), Eric, Ryan, Jesse, Jennifer, Nicole, Shawn and Catherine, as well as many nieces and nephews, and friends.
Frank was one of 13 children born to Marbel and Henry Steck of Jarvie, Alberta; he was raised on the family farm. In 1941, at the age of 18, Frank joined the Army; he served our country for four years. After Frank left the army he went up north to Norman Wells, where he was running cat, then to Alberta where he was a heavy duty equipment operator, road builder and basement digger for many years. Frank met Catherine Parker while in Edmonton, who became his first wife. In the early years Frank and Catherine had a store, where Frank made clocks and repaired them, and made rock jewellery, which they sold in craft fairs and fall fairs. The store also sold lots of candy to many children over the years. They moved to Golden where Frank worked for Cozier Lumber, (his grandson Tommy said "Grandpa was so tough he could lift the corner of a cat blade”). He worked for two summers on the Trans Canada Highway for Square M (Mason Brothers Company). In Frank's life he worked seasonal in various lumber camps as well. In 1972 Frank moved to Vavenby, BC. He worked for CTP (Clearwater Timber Products) where his boss was Ernie Graffunder. He was a Grader Operator and the BEST on his job. Ernie said "Frank went above and beyond the call of duty, a very remarkable man." He would never lie around; if the grader was broken down, Frank was out there trying to help fix it. Ernie would go out in the middle of the night to check on Frank and call him on the radio to make sure all was well. To this day, people still talk about the wonderful grader that Frank was. There was none like him. You could count on him and never worry about the road you had to go out on. He was “Mr. Dependable”.
Frank met our mom Glady’s in Armstrong, BC and she became his second wife in 1980. They lived in Vavenby for 13 years and then moved to Kamloops. They remained there until their passing. After Frank’s retirement from CTP, Mom and Frank went into making wood items, including rabbits, dogs, nursery rhyme characters, doll cradles, and flower baskets, to name a few. They gave many items away as presents, and sold others. It was quite a production line, Frank cutting out, sanding, both of them nailing the products together and mom painting them. They also took a lot of special drives together, complete with a picnic lunch and would just enjoy the scenery and their life together. Thank you, Frank for being such a caring person and always giving from your heart. You will always be fondly remembered.
A funeral service for Frank Steck will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 20, 2009 at Clearwater Christian Church, Clearwater, BC, with Lloyd Strickland officiating. Those who wish to do so may pay their respects at a viewing from 11:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the church. Interment at Riverview Cemetery, Clearwater, BC, will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Frank Steck's name to: Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice House, 72 Whiteshield Cr. South, Kamloops, BC, V2E 2S9. Arrangements entrusted to North Thompson Funeral Services, Clearwater, BC, tel.: 250-674-3030.