It is with heavy hearts and much sadness, that the family of Edward (Ed) Klus announces that he passed away from complications from Parkinson disease in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 23, 2016 at West Coast General Hospital. He was 87 years old.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Anne, his sons: Ken, James (Marie) and Len. His grandchildren: Kyle (Leanne), Kandice and Chase. His sister Vicky Jerstad, brother and sisters-in-law: Helen (Chris), Verna, Peter (Sharon), Ted (Flo), Irene and Rose (Paul), many nieces, nephews and many friends.
Ed was born on July 24, 1928 in Olds, Alberta. At eight months old his family moved to Trail, then Kelowna, Pitt Meadows and then Alberni where Ed went to school until he was 14 years old. Ed then went to live with his mother in Prince Rupert, where he worked in a grocery store until he was 16 years old. At this point World War II was on and he wanted to join the Canadian Navy. He was too young so he and his friend went to Portland, Oregon where they joined the American Merchant Marines. They worked on the ships until the war was over. Ed then transferred to a supply ship that serviced all the light houses up and down the coast. After that he worked on the Princess Louise Tour Ships that sailed to Alaska from Vancouver. Ed met Anne in Vancouver while working on the ships. One weekend he went to visit his dad in Port Alberni, got a job with West Coast Freight, came back after two weeks, married Anne on September 17, 1955 in Vancouver, moved to Port Alberni, then got a job as a pile driver for 43 years with MacMillan Bloedel and remained in Port Alberni for the rest of his life.
Ed was quite the character; he had a great sense of humour, loved to fish, hunt, camp, have a rye and 7Up and tell a story or two. He spent a lot of time fishing in the canal, catching the big one on his boat the Sea Fox with his wife, children, grandchildren and friends. A favourite pastime for Ed was watching curling and hockey in his big recliner and being a season ticket holder for the Bulldogs. Ed was a member of the Elks Club, Royal Canadian Legion and I.O.F. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts and coached hockey. Ed and Anne loved to square dance, which they did for over 25 years. They also played cribbage, bowled and curled.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the Chapel of Memories with a tea to follow at the Lawn Bowling Club.
If so desired donations in Ed’s memory may be made to Ty Watson House (Alberni Hospice Society) or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Dr. Van Zyl, Dr. Williams and all the nurses at West Coast General Hospital for the excellent care that Ed received. In Ed’s words, “the care I’m receiving is amazing”.