Richard John Clouthier
“Dick”
1932 – 2016
Dick was born on February 28, 1932 in Sudbury, Ontario. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in P.P.C.L.I. remustered to R.C.E.M.E. when he was young. Dick was posted to Germany where he met and married Rosemarie. Dad now had an instant family with Rose and her daughter Elke. After Margaret was born they returned to Petawawa in 1956. Dad built a house and we enjoyed being around our grandparents and great grandparents, numerous grand uncles, aunts, cousins and second cousins. We spent summers on the Point, where the Ottawa River meets the Petawawa River. Dad taught to us swim, fish, play games and on occasion to check the trap line. There was lots of outdoors and fresh air! He purchased an Encyclopedia Britannica set and the Book of Knowledge set, so we would start on the road to a good education. He was a great dancer and wherever there was an opportunity he would cut a rug!
There was plenty of singing and laughter in our household when we were youngsters. We sang along to various songs of the day If I Had A Hammer by Peter, Paul and Mary, Peggy Lee’s Rocking Around The Christmas Tree, Jim Reeves, Roger Miller and many more. Every Sunday morning we went church and Christmas and Easter were major celebrations. We were so proud to be a family. Dad loved to help others and wherever he was, had an adopted family who in turn gave him company and the benefit of being a good Samaritan.
The next posting was back in Germany in 1962 with lots of short trips to Holland in Den Haag on the North Sea, the Seilersee and visits with mom’s sister Hannah, Walter and their three children and other family. We traveled in grand style in a 1950’s style Lincoln Continental vacationing throughout Europe. The next posting was to Calgary in 1965 RCEME, attached to Fort Garry Horse. We traveled across Canada in two Lincolns with the Moose Horns as roof ornaments. Dad won a pistol shooting competition and did a tour in Cyprus as a peacekeeper for NATO. After the last two postings to Lahr, Germany and Edmonton, Alberta with the Lord Strathcona Horse Regiment, he finished his Military career with the rank of Warrant Officer. He taught us how to ski, play chess, cards, parcheesi, collect coins, bowl, dance sing along to Mitch Miller and to love life. Dad always wanted to share his knowledge with others and taught many people how to hunt, fish and to tell bad jokes. Our Great grandfather Henry ”Harry” was a stone mason who built some of the buildings at Camp Petawawa and helped in the building of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Petawawa. Granpa Jack worked in the mine in Sudbury Ontario and continued the Clouthier tradition of logging, hunting, fishing and tending the trap line.
Dad was proud of a film that was made of him guiding a big game hunt of big horn sheep and his trophy Elk that is listed with the Boone and Crockett.
Dad had lifelong friends within the military and outside of it as well. He came to BC to start a new chapter in his life. Due to the connection he shared with Dick and Joyce Davis, dad decided to settle in the Kootenays. Dad built and renovated many houses, the pub at the Bull River Inn and was always hardworking. He worked with the Fernie Forestry Service where met some more great people. He also guided with Lunenberg Outfitters in the Flathead. He collected coins (Numnistetist), and was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Cranbrook and also bowled with a league. Dad was cared about by his family, his friends and his neighbours. He loved to talk on the phone and find out how everyone was doing. Dad and the neighbours would meet outside to have a drink and talk by the fire at Doug and Pepper’s place. Cliff and Shirley Sandberg, Tom and Carmen Foull and the Davis family, thank you. Joyce, her son Jack and family all kept dad on track. The last years of his life he enjoyed watching the wildlife and birds on and across the Kootenay River from his porch, a beautiful unparalleled view of the Steeples Range - Bull River Mountain. Hummingbirds would visit the many feeders dad had set up and the bears would visit the apple tree. Dad would spot Elk, Moose, Eagles, and even a family of Otters. Dad ended his days on Colony Road at home in his sleep on January 2, 2016. He spent his last days in a house that he renovated with the same fervor that he had throughout his amazing life - ‘BEAUTIFUL’ - it was the word he used to describe people, compliment and encourage and that he handed out to others - and not too sparingly. We children were always dealt a fair hand and not just at playing cards, monopoly or checkers. Dad had a full and enterprising life and loved to entertain. He was a great story teller. He would say ‘listen’ and then tell a joke or a story that would end with a wide smile and enormous laugh.
Dick is survived by his son Richard J. Clouthier Junior, his daughters Margaret J. Clouthier and Elke B. Baines and his nephew Thom (Meredith) Rose and their daughter Brooke. He was predeceased by his father John “Jack” Clouthier, his mother Margaret Alice Whiteside, step-mother Marjorie McLeod and uncle Roy Whiteside all of Petawawa, Ontario. He was also predeceased by his sister Sheila (Art) Rose, nephew Rick Rose, aunt Muriel Charette ,uncle Gerald Whiteside, many aunts, uncles and cousins on the Clouthier side, his most beloved uncle Herb Clouthier of Mattawa and our granpa Jack Clouthier had eleven brothers and sisters who have all passed away as well.
A funeral service for Dick will be held at McPherson Funeral Home in Cranbrook on or Monday, January 18, 2016 at 1:00 pm.
Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service.
Condolences for the family can be offered at:
www.mcphersonfh.com