LENARCIC, Anton Josef “Tony”

December 2, 1961 — April 8, 2026

It is with the deepest sorrow that we share the passing of Tony Lenarcic on April 8, 2026, at the age of 64.

Tony will be missed beyond measure by his devoted wife, Lorinda, and their beloved daughter, Tijana. He is survived by his mother, Marija; his siblings Frank (Sandy), Sonja, John (Jen), Mario (Michele), and Rob; as well as his mother-in-law, Gerry; his brother-in-law, Rick; the very best nieces and nephews; and family members in Slovenia.

He was predeceased by his father, Anton; his father-in-law, Gordon; and his sister-in-law, Jeanette.

Tony was born December 1, 1961, to Anton and Marija Lenarcic in Kelowna, BC. He was the eldest of six children, a title that, in his family, came with no crown, but plenty of responsibility. Born into a Slovenian immigrant family still finding their footing in a new country, he spent his early years in an apple orchard pickers’ cabin in South Kelowna. As a toddler, he could often be found sitting in an apple bin on the family orchard, watching his parents work. It wasn’t long before he was working alongside them, eventually mastering every job on the farm. Tony attended South Kelowna Elementary and later KLO High School, which he graduated from in 1979. He attended Okanagan College, completing Business Administration in 1984. Tony began his career at Western Star Trucks, where he formed lifelong friendships with colleagues, including Brad, Ed, and Bruno. He later joined Ikon Office Solutions, continuing with the company through its transition to Ricoh Canada, where he dedicated approximately 34 years of service.

Tony was known as a man of integrity and steadfast determination. He was honest, genuine, and hardworking; focused and motivated in all he did. He built strong relationships with both colleagues and customers, consistently going above and beyond, earning trust through his reliability and commitment. Tony valued his co-workers, stating to his wife many times that they were his “work family,” celebrating wins as well as experiencing losses together.

In 1993, Tony met his soulmate Lorinda while on a sales blitz in downtown Kelowna. One of their first dates was Go-Kart racing, and he knew she was the one! They married in 1994, beginning a treasured partnership grounded in devotion, mutual respect, and shared purpose. Together, they built a life centered on faith, family, enduring love, resilience, perseverance, and gratitude.

Their daughter, Tijana, was born in 1995 and remained at the heart of Tony’s world. A devoted and protective father, Tony approached parenthood with unwavering dedication. He was her advocate, her steady support, and her safe place. No matter how much she grew, she would always be his little girl, and he never stopped scooping her up for a hug or sharing quiet moments together.

Tony found joy in the simple and meaningful things – quadding, fishing, camping, time spent with family, and travelling with Lorinda. Together, they explored many places, including Portugal and Spain for their 30th anniversary, as well as Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Mexico, and Hawaii throughout their marriage.

In true selfless Tony fashion, he volunteered for many years in his spare time with the Powderhounds Adaptive Snow Sports, initially taking his own daughter sit-skiing, and later assisting many other families as well. In 2010, Tony had the honour of being chosen to be a torchbearer for the Winter Olympics, walking a short distance along the route, contributing to a long chain that symbolized the coming together of the world until the flame finally reached the stadium.

Tony lived his life in a matter-of-fact, no-nonsense way. He was a leader and mentor at church, at work, and at home. He was solution-focused in everything he did – steady, strong, humble, and brave. When challenges arose, he met them head-on with determination and perseverance. He was a man who showed up, did the work, and took care of the people he loved, so incredibly well.

Particularly during this past, extra challenging year, Tony’s appreciation for his family, especially his siblings, grew, as they supported his health journey in tangible ways: from motivating him on hikes, to encouraging calls, texts and visits. He loved you all dearly, and prayed for each one of you daily! Tony’s love and appreciation spilled over to his prayer warrior family members, faithful friends, and Church family, whose calls, messages, and encouragement were felt deeply.

Tony’s absence leaves a profound void, but his example (of integrity, dedication, and quiet strength) will remain with all who truly knew him. Goodbyes are not forever; they are not the end. They simply mean, I’ll miss you until we meet again.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There will be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4

The family would like to thank Dr. “V,” the compassionate and caring Staff of 5B at Kelowna General Hospital, and every single person who was “present” for Tony this past year.

A celebration of Tony’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Tony’s memory to any of the following organizations that were close to his heart:
AbleSail Okanagan (pimbc.ca/ablesail-okanagan)
Adaptive Adventures (www.adaptiveadventures.ca)
ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) (www.adra.ca).

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