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Edward Chwachka

July 9, 2010

Chwachka, Carl Edward


September 22, 1943-July 9, 2010


Carl passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family after an eight month battle with cancer. He was born in Regina Saskatchewan and grew up in nearby Cupar. He was an avid athlete and began his career in hockey by joining the Mellville Millionaires Jr. hockey club at the age of 16. His hockey skills granted him a full scholarship, the first scholarship of its kind in Canada, at Notre Dame in Nelson B.C where he completed a Degree in Economics in 1969. His hockey career took him to training camps in the NHL with the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks.

Carl then decided to pursue his passion for education by completing a Degree in Education at the University of Calgary, also funded by a scholarship in Hockey. Carl taught and mentored many young people in Calgary, Banff and Nakusp and is fondly remembered by his students. Carl met his wife Barb and lived in Banff and Canmore where they built many lifelong friendships. They were married in 1979 and moved to Nakusp where their sons were born. Carl was an inventive and skilled carpenter and could fix anything, building the family log home and ceaselessly developing the homestead in Sleepy Hollow. Carl was an enthusiastic and athletic outdoorsman, loving to take golf trips with his buddies, ski touring at Harlow Creek, houseboating with his family and family friends Jackson and Loring, and most of all travelling and hiking with Barb. He coached minor hockey in Nakusp and led his team to an undefeated season winning the Regional Pee-Wee Championships in 1993. Carl would always say his greatest pleasure and pride are his two sons Joey and Phillip. He drove many miles with them to out of town hockey games and spent many hours with them in the “shop” building things. He was so proud to see both boys embarking on successful careers and families of their own. Carl worked for Canadian Mountain Holidays for 15 years. Carl is survived and missed forever by wife Barb, sons Joey (wife Ashley), Phillip, daughter Karla, beloved granddaughter Mackenzie and grandson Harrison, sister Maryanne, brother Ken and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank those in the medical community who were always so very kind and encouraging- Dr.N. Lea, Dr.P. Malpass, nurses at the Nelson chemo clinic Cheryl and Annette, and nurses and doctors at the Arrow Lakes Hospital. No words can express our gratitude to those who provided constant personal support to Carl and family in his last days-Pauline, Ulli and Gwen. Over the past eight months our many friends in Nakusp, Rossland, Banff, Whitefish, Calgary and Galena Lodge showed Carl how much he was loved and respected.


Anyone wishing to honor the life of Carl Chwachka may make a donation to the Nakusp and Area Community Foundation Environment Fund, Box 15 Nakusp B.C. V0G 1R0. There was a gathering of family and friends on July 24th at 2pm at our home 344 Heppner Rd. Nakusp.



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