We Remember
UPDATED SERVICE INFO – THORKELSON, Grahame Walter Karl
December 28, 1929 — June 24, 2022
A Memorial Service will be hosted on Monday, July 18th, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. 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.
Dr. Grahame Walter Karl Thorkelson was born December 28, 1929, in Winnipeg as the eldest of three children to Rose and Karl Thorkelson. He graduated from the University of Manitoba medical program in 1955.
He met his beautiful bride, Amy Dryden, a lab technician, in Winnipeg, and they married in 1955. He opened a general practice in Dawson Creek before moving the family to their beloved vacation city of Kelowna. He later specialized in anesthesiology and practiced at the Kelowna General Hospital for 28 years before retiring in 1998.
He was a skilled and respected anesthetist while at the Kelowna General Hospital. Grahame was also known as a handyman in the Operating Room, fixing equipment and tools and contriving things to make the work safer or easier for his colleagues. His love of puzzling out solutions and fixing things all around him resulted in his nickname “Puttering Pops”. He was an avid fish wrangler and loved boating. This love was, however, surpassed by his passion for music; always tapping his toes to the favourites of Glenn Miller, Pete Fountain, and more. He had amazing adventures with many; traveling, hiking, skiing, and paddling. He was an active member of the Gyro Club of Kelowna for decades. He hunted ducks and geese in Grand Prairie at “The Mallard Inn” for more than sixty years. He loved woodworking and has left a legacy of his creations for many to enjoy. He was a consummate and patient teacher of many things.
Grahame was the pillar of his family. His wife, Amy, passed away in 1998 as did his loving partner Doreen Gilmore in 2020. His son, Scott, sadly predeceased him in 1984, as did his sister, Shirley. He is survived by his son Cam (Barb) and Brent (Lenora) as well as grandchildren Kristilee (Blake) Jennifer (Adam), Grahame, Ben, and great-grandchildren, Lukas, Lauren, Sullivan, and baby Struthers. His brother, Brian (Heather), and many nephews and nieces will also dearly miss him.
Grahame passed away quietly at the age of 92 on June 24, 2022. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honour to the Alzheimer’s Society.
“You were the best Dad and friend anyone could wish for”
Cam and Brent
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
LIVESTREAM:
Service
Monday, July 18th, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Location
Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC.
Share with Others:
Alzheimer’s Society Link: www.alzheimer.ca
Service Information
Service Details
The service for UPDATED SERVICE INFO – THORKELSON, Grahame Walter Karl is scheduled for Monday, July 18th, 2022 at 1:00 pm. 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.
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
My sincere condolences to Grahame’s family. I have many fond memories of times we shared in Gyro activities, especially the annual gyro fishing trips. A good friend who made a positive mark in my life and whom I shall miss. Cheerio ol’ top, cheerio!
Sincerely,
Paul Durose
When I was born in Dawson Creek I was named after you. Hearing this news makes me sad. My feelings go to your family and fiends.
My favourite uncle in law. I was very young but remember your courtship with aunt Amy. We were all very excited. Lots of laughs over time during family visits. You were so kind to my parents, Edna and Frank.
First met the champion bird shooter in 1964 He basically commandeered me to go to Dawson Creek to start my practice. He and Amy invited my wife and I to Christmas dinner. A wonderful meal was had by all including plentiful liquids. Whilst the ladies chatted Dr. T and myself discovered that Brent had been given a set of battery operated toy cars. It kept us lying on the floor until almost 3am on Boxing Day laying track in the basement and making racing noises. Amy was not amused!! Grahame loved his TR4. He wanted to take me around Finn’s corner in Dawson to see if there was any drift! This corner is approximately 90 degrees! At 100 miles an hour there was very little drift especially since we only had two wheels in contact with the ground.
Grahame and I besides the duck shoots would hunt the rivers on my jet boat for a week before the duck hunt. Most were quite successful and usually celebrated with a few beer! We used to drink often and it wasn’t until his middle son Scotty died that he stopped all his drinking. Even when circled with yahoos like myself he was resolute in his abstinence. I think that this is a realistic signal of his inner strength that when he thought of doing something…… it was done. It is refreshing to see that this trait has been passed on to Cameron and Brent
I’m getting a little teary now and so privileged to have been a friend of your dad even though he never called me Doc or Brian but always Galli. !!!
Having my flight cancelled an not able to get to the memorial, Brent emailed me with the detail of having the me view the memorial on line. it was a wonderful tribute to a beautiful, accomplished man. So many loving tributes & stories. Sent with love to Cam, Barbara, Brent ,& Lenore and families.
Pat Kelly
A wonderful tribute to Uncle Grahame. I was 16 or 17 when I first met him and a huge crush on him. Remember him well. Aunt Amy didn`t seem to mind, just smiled. Love to you all and my deepest sympathies.