SCHINDLER, Daniel (Dan) Born July 20, 1923 – October 20, 2021 aged 98 years.
Dan Schindler passed away peacefully on October 20, 2021, at the Kamsack nursing home at the age of 98. He is mourned by his children, Rod, Kim (Lucy) and Leanne, 4 grandchildren, Stephanie (Dan), Ian (Chelsea), Brendan (Haley) and Adam and one great grandchild, Piper. Dan was predeceased by his wife, Bernice, in 2012; his parents, Joe and Annie; his brothers, Herb and Joe; his sisters, Katie Funk, Bertha Ross, Agnes McCracken, Julia Matvenko, Margaret Bradbury and Elsie Carr; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wilf and Mae Cotter.
Dan was born on July 20, 1923 in Runnymede, Saskatchewan. He grew up with nine siblings on a mixed family farm in Boggy Creek Valley. Dan also worked at the family operated sawmill and flour mill in Kamsack. He attended Memorial school near Runnymede.
Dan joined the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and served as an air gunner in Liberator Squadron No. 159 stationed in England and later in India. He flew in B-24 Liberators and was awarded the Burma Star for his participation in a special duty squadron which flew 20 bombing raids in Burma and Indochina. Dan and the crew he served with remained close over the years. Dan was the last surviving member of his crew.
In 1950, Dan married the love of his life, Bernice Cotter, and they were married for 62 years. They raised three children together in Kamsack. Dan was a conductor for the CN railroad for 32 years, retired to Madge Lake in 1981 and wintered in Mesa, Arizona for many years with family and Kamsack friends.
Dan had a lifelong passion for airplanes and received his pilot’s license in 1960. He started the Kamsack flying club and spent many hours flying and mentoring new pilots. He loved giving family members and friends their first plane ride in his Cessna two seater airplane. Many family vacations also revolved around air shows, aviation museums and visits to local flying clubs.
Dan had a very long and happy life doing the things he loved. He was a devoted husband and father. He was an active golfer, curler, fisherman and nature enthusiast. He was also a skilled carpenter and handyman. There was nothing Dan could not fix, or try to fix, and he was always willing to lend a hand to his neighbors. Dan was also a life-long member and supporter of the Kamsack Legion. But most of all, Dan loved spending time with family and friends at Madge Lake, his favorite place on earth. His grandchildren have fond lake memories of driving in Grandpa’s red truck, catching their first fish, water skiing, visiting the horse stables, campfires and feeding Grandpa’s deer in front of the cottage.
A private funeral mass will be held at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church with interment at Riverview Cemetery. The family is grateful to the Kamsack Nursing home for the excellent care and compassion they provided to Dan in his final years. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit Wolkowski.ca.
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