We Remember
UPDATED SERVICE INFO – KRANABETTER, Denis
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A Memorial Service will be held on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2022, at 1:00 PM, at SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. Celebrant: Kim Bergstrom. A reception will follow.
If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below), a recording will be made available to view shortly thereafter.
On July 7, 2022, “Papa” Denis Kranabetter, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by love at the age of 77 years. He is survived by his loving wife Cheri Mitchell together 22 beautiful years; his sons Kevin (Deb) and Mark (Lisa) and daughter Lori; grandchildren Kylie, Josh, Nicole, Josie, & Shawn, Tyler, Dyllan, Alexandra, & Keegan; great-grandchildren Liam, Bodhi, Paisley, Camryn, and a new baby on the way; also, his children’s mother Heather Bruce. He was predeceased by Cheri’s son, Ron-Dallas.
Denis served 32 esteemed, dedicated years at the Kelowna Fire Department, retiring in 2001. He grew up on a 60-acre farm in Lister, BC with numerous siblings. He is loved and adored by all his large family and friends in Canada, USA, and Europe.
Throughout his life he excelled in many challenging adventures and sports including baseball, curling, hockey, hiking, climbing, the list goes on… Even walking the entire distance from Kelowna to Creston, BC (420kms) in 1996. In later years, he devoted his time to tending his land and immense garden, he donated fresh produce to the Kelowna Gospel Mission and created masterpiece wood carvings that are enjoyed by many near and far. Papa loved deeply and had great respect for all nature, often finding joy in life’s quiet simplest pleasures. He was an inspiration and will be dearly missed by all who loved him.
In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to a charity of your choice that’s near and dear to your ‘Heart’.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
My sincere condolences to the family. I worked and played sports with Denis for many years. I always respected and looked up to him. He will be missed. Mike Beese
To the Family of Denis Kranabetter….So sorry to hear of the passing of Denis. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. .RIP Denis.
Peter & Kathy Pich
I love and miss you all…and i am soo sorry to hear of your loss 💞
I wish to express my condolences to Lori and all of the family. I know how much their father meant to them. Lori always spoke so affectionately about her dad and the all time she spent with him. Bless you all ❤🤗
My sincerest condolences for you at this time. Denis loved you all very much. We will hold dear our memories forever in our hearts. He will be greatly missed. Much love & Hugs, Denise Nickason
Hey Mark, Kevin and Lori
At Denis’ retirement party I took the opportunity to thank him for what he did for me as a rookie firefighter but never shared those thoughts with you until now.
I feel very fortunate to have had Denis as my first Captain when I was hired in 1987. Three impressions of your dad that I would like to share are:
1) I remember my first day shift on C shift. Denis told me that we were running from station 1 up to the top of Dilworth Drive. Being the young guy he told me that I would lead and he and the crew would follow. Me, not being a runner but wanting to make a good impression, pretty much sprinted from station 1 to the top of Dilworth and had burning lungs like I had never experienced… your dad (who was in his mid to late 40s?) was 6 feet behind me the entire way. The others walked most of the way. On our walk down, Denis climbed a lamp standard… out to the light and hung there for a while before sliding down. I wasn’t going to try that one.
2) I learned to keep busy when work wasn’t busy from your Dad. He understood the importance of being not just good at your job but GREAT at what you do. On night shifts we were always making or improving a new tool; practicing fundamentals or new tactics. I started about the time Positive Pressure Ventilation was coming into the fire service. Not everyone believed or understood the concept but your Dad was a great proponent of it and we did evolutions constantly when it was new to understand and have confidence in the new tactic. He once had me climb the 35′ ladder while it was standing straight up and secured by ropes being held by 4 firefighters. I’m sure today we’d all be in trouble for a training evolution like that but it taught me to trust the guys I work with and my abilities.
3) His command presence was calm and cool. He was definitely a hands-on leader… maybe too much at times but he always instilled confidence in his decision making and direction to his crews.
Mark, your sense of humor reminds me so much of your old man. I’m glad that your young firefighters get to experience that little piece of Captain Kranabetter Sr.