SHIOSAKI, Garry

September 29, 1957 — October 22, 2022

Garry Shiosaki passed away peacefully on October 22, 2022 at the Brookhaven Care Centre in West Kelowna, BC.  He was 65 years old.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 37 years, Gloria; his daughter Carly and son-in-law Jake Knight; his siblings Gordon (Debbie), Bernice (Mike Webster), Judy (Mike McDermott); Brian (Tanya), Ronald, Jackie, David, and Cindy; the Engene family, Bennett family, Swanson family, and Mould family; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.  Long time childhood friends who will miss him include Jeff Middleton and family, Kevin Roche, and the Schwartz family.

Garry was predeceased by his daughter Kayla (d.2022), father Jack (d.1981), mother Yasue (d.1999), brother Eugene (d.1966), sister Susie Engene (d 2002), Sister Nona Bennett (d.2019), father-in-law Lawrence Swanson (d.2015), and mother-in-law Vera Swanson (d.2005).

Garry was born at Kelowna General Hospital on September 29, 1957.  He attended school at Raymer Elementary, and graduated from Kelowna Senior Secondary in 1976.  Garry worked for Kelowna Nurseries, Kelowna General Hospital – kitchen staff, Western Star/White Trucks, Teck Coal – Fording River Operations from 1981 – 2011.

He attended Selkirk College in Nelson, BC in 1977/78 studying pre-apprentice Heavy Duty Mechanics.

Garry married Gloria in Kelowna on June 29, 1985 and they lived in Elkford, BC from 1981 through until 2014.  Daughters Kayla and Carly were born in 1988 and 1991 respectively.

He was a volunteer fireman for the Elkford Fire Department from 1988 through 2012, and a Mine Rescue Member for Fording River Operations from 1988 – 2012.

Garry loved fishing the Elk and Fording Rivers with buddies Russ and Daryl, as well as Koocanusa Lake with buddies Dale, Blair, Dave,Terry, and Doug, and Okanagan and Woods Lakes with brothers Brian and Ron and cousin Rick, and the Shuswap with brother Brian and Uncle Camillo.  He hunted in the Elk Valley with buddy Pete.  Lots of wonderful memories of camping at Lake Koocanusa with long time Elkford friends Hascarls, Huciks, Roberts, Kliments, Tanners, Walshes and Hills. He was always there for friends, family and strangers and would give the shirt off his back to help.  He enjoyed working on cars, trucks, and boats – anything with a motor.  He loved sports and played fastball, slowpitch, golf, bowling, and enjoyed hiking and walking.  A die-hard Vancouver Canucks fan, he had recently become a Seattle Kraken fan.

Garry was a loving, enthusiastic and involved father for Kayla and Carly.  He was a community volunteer coach for youth baseball, women’s softball and high school volleyball teams.  He was also coach for his daughters’ T-ball, softball and volleyball teams.  He was a superb spotlight operator for every annual ice show of the Elkford Figure Skating Club .

He was diagnosed with early on-set dementia in 2010.  In 2014 he retired to Kelowna to be closer to family and friends.  Thanks to family and friends Garry had lots of good times and attended many memorable events.  He moved into Brookhaven Care Facility in October of 2018 and passed away peacefully in October  2022.

Special thank you to Brookhaven Staff who became our extended family.  Thank you for your exceptional care of Garry.  Special shout-outs to the MacIntosh Unit staff and the Spartan Unit staff.  Thank you to Dr. David Whiting and staff – especially Angela.  And of course, many thanks to our wonderful family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 10:00 am, at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. A reception will follow at the same venue.  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.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzeimer Society of BC, or a charity of your choice.

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.

Service Details

The service for SHIOSAKI, Garry is scheduled for Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 10:00 am. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC

2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC

Phone:

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Special Requests:

None.

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