CLAUSEN, Alfred

September 11, 1938 — May 15, 2023

It is with deep sadness and much love that we mourn the passing of Alfred Clausen (85), of Kelowna, British Columbia.  Alfred endured years of heartbreak from losing his beautiful daughter, Debbie Neufeld (Clausen) to cancer in 2012, and then losing the love of his life, Sharon Clausen to cancer in 2019. Alfred lost a courageous battle with dementia and passed away on May 15, 2023. We cry only because we miss him but know he is in the loving arms of our Lord and our family members who have passed on before him. Alfred spent his last few years under the loving care of Hawthorn Park staff in their Orchard Manor Long Term Care facility, and they were a godsend. The amazing staff there treated him like family, and we will be forever grateful for their loving care. Alfred is survived by his daughter Teresa Cook (Clausen), his son-in-law James Cook, his son Greg Clausen as well as his granddaughters Shandiz and Sara Gousheh whom he treasured. He was preceded in death by his parents, Holgar and Annie Clausen, and his younger brothers Hank and Eddie Clausen.

Alfred was born & raised in Fruitvale, BC. He had a passion for learning throughout his life. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and was 3 points shy of obtaining his master’s degree. He went on to teach Industrial Arts at Stanley Humphries High School in Castlegar while working summers as an electrician for Cominco (Tech) in Trail, BC for many years. He continued his love of teaching by moving on to take a position at the Workman’s Compensation Board where he was instrumental in developing and presenting many teaching courses all over BC and Vancouver Island in industrial safety.  Alfred had an uncanny ability to carry on an intelligent conversation on any subject, with anyone, and always kept your attention with his breadth of knowledge and his pleasant nature.  He was a true gentleman.

Alfred held many vocations in his life, from teaching high school and teaching and working as a safety inspector for the Workman Compensation Board to owning a trucking company to being head of the ski patrol at Red Mountain in Rossland, BC. Alfred’s favorite and most cherished role though, was being a family man and a loving husband, and an amazing father.  I truly believe that one of the keys to his successful marriage was that he courted his wife until the day she died. He was an accomplished pilot and loved to fly his family around BC in our Piper Cherokee 170. He even obtained his float plane license. Every weekend growing up was filled with family activities like skiing in the winter and camping or making the rounds to visit grandparents and other family nearby in the summer or taking his son all over BC and Washington State to compete in motocross dirt racing.  He loved nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren and once he and his wife retired, they traveled every year on their Gold Wing motorcycle or in their RV to visit their grandkids in California and then traveled on to visit many of the US national parks on the western coast.  He was very active in the Canadian Gold Wing Riders Association and proudly served as their president for several years.

It’s no secret that Alfred had a life-long love affair with pumpkin pie, Swedish meatballs, a good steak, mom’s butter tarts, and anything with seafood in it. His devotion to the Masonic Lodge for over 40 years, and especially as an active member of the Shriners, reflected his commitment to his community and all the hope and healing that the Shriners Hospital brings to children in need.

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