Pat (Pete) Olfert
Sunday, March 27, 2011
It is with great sadness and love we announce the passing of Pat (Pete) Olfert. He was 84 when he passed away suddenly on Sunday March 27th @ 9:10 pm. at Palliative Care in Nanaimo Hospital. He lived in Ladysmith BC. Born Oct 23 1926 in Blumenhof Village Altona Manitoba.
Mother: Margaret Olfert (nee Thiessen); Father: Henry Olfert; Brothers: Abe, John, Henry, Jake, Isaac, Curley, Bernard; Sisters: Margaret, Olga, Helen, Mick, Katherine, Erna. Too many nieces and nephews to mention, but he loved them all.
Pat married Yolanda Jacobucci in 1958, together they had 3 children; daughter Patricia (John) Sneddon, two children, Duke and Molly, son Patrick, children Dayton, Cassidy, Zack and Haley, and son Pete, one child, Hank. They spent 26 years together raising children. Their home was always ?lled with love, family and friends, lots of laughs, warm feelings and a song or two.
As a young man Pat worked for Ontario Hydro and on the Mid Canada Radar Line. Pat and Yolanda moved to Vancouver Island in 1962 with two of his brothers and family. Together they ran a cafe and construction company, they were successful in those endeavors and many buildings are still standing. Pat would marvel at the fact that the house only cost 14k to build then, and is now worth 400k. As the years passed they built and ran the Timberland Mobile Home Park and the Timberland Pub. The Pub was the best place to be on weekend nights, long dresses, Gong Shows and plenty of dancing kept the crowds coming. Some nights waiting in line to get in.
Pat was a Freemason and Shriner, he loved driving the old Firetruck and giving rides to everybody. He loved this time in his life, he was very proud of the years spent at his lodge. He also spent time with Jobs Daughters, making his daughter and nieces very happy. The Olfert family grew as the years went by. It started with two brothers and their families on the island and ended up with nine of the thirteen children living in BC. Pat loved his family, and the feeling was very noticeable; if you ever enjoyed time with them all together. He also loved to play his guitar and sing. Sharing his love of music with family and friends made him so very happy.
Pat shared the last 24 years of his life with Claira Hunter, they traveled with the Eagles, loved to dance, enjoyed the Casino every once in a while and liked to take a drive just because. They spent time in Port Hardy where Pat owned the Airport Inn. At retirement time they moved to Ladysmith and bought a home with a view and a seagull or two. They enjoyed time spent with Claira’s family, her children, grand children and great grand children. They always had a story to tell. Due to illness Clair spent the last few years in The Lodge on 4th where Pat went every day possible to see his darling Claira.
A celebration of Pats life will be held on April 8th at the Eagles Hall in Ladysmith from 1 - 4 . In lieu of ?owers please donate to the Nanaimo Hospital.