Alexander James “Kiki” Petovello was born in Fernie, BC on June 28, 1930 and passed peacefully in Fernie on January 2, 2025. At an early age he was moved to Michel-Natal, BC to Rizzuto’s logging camp where life was tough yet a lot simpler. This is where Kiki’s close bond with his dad, Angelo, and his strong faith in God started to form as he wanted to know his father, family, and friends would safely come home from work every day without hearing the sounds of the coal mine whistle. Trust was needed during the Great Depression, and Kiki found that trust in his faith.

As he grew old enough to search for his own job, Kiki’s love for trucks formed when he would leave school early and walk to the sawmill in Natal to wait for the logging truck drivers to come in with their load of logs, who would stop at the entrance and let Kiki drive the truck into the mill, unload the logs, fuel the truck, and return it to the scale house. He would later get a job in the Trites Woods Grocery store in Natal as a stock boy and was soon offered a trade as a butcher to cut meat. This is where he met the love of his wife, Elia Picco. They were married in 1952.

While building their relationship as a couple, Kiki was building working relationships in the community and identified the opportunity to start his own business. They opened their first grocery store in 1952 in Natal, Kiki’s Meats and Groceries. Kiki was approached in 1953 to acquire the license needed to do rail side picks from CP Rail, where he would deliver supplies to his own store as well as other businesses in town. Towards the end of the 50’s, Kiki and Elia opened a second store in Michel.

Come 1960, while operating two stores and delivering local freight, the Crowsnest Pass Coal Company contacted Kiki regarding a CP Rail car that had lost a load of rock dust, used for controlling methane gas in the underground coal mines, and needed it delivered using one of Kiki’s trucks. Once the CNP Coal Company got the invoice, they realized Kiki’s service was a steal of a deal and they asked if he permanently wanted the contract. As Kiki started to become busier delivering rock dust with his sons Douglas and Melvin, he was also delivering other goods around the community such as lumber, groceries, and a run to Fernie for a Coca Cola contract he picked up delivering pop, that would fall under a separate company called Kiki’s Transfer. In the midst of the business growth, Elia became sick with kidney problems. Despite being told through the pregnancy of their 3rd son, Kent, that Elia would not survive, they leaned on their faith…and again the trust prevailed!

In 1967-68 when Kaiser Resources rolled into town and the boom started, locals of Michel-Natal were being evicted, and Kiki was forced to relocate the business to Michel Creek Rd, and eventually built a home in Sparwood in the summer of 1970. The boom would change the name of Kiki’s Transfer to Kiki and Son’s Transfer Ltd to better serve the developing coal mines. Throughout the 70’s Kiki became a pillar in the Sparwood community as it started to grow and become more established, and eventually in building the town of Elkford up the valley. The early 80’s kept Kiki, his family, and all his dedicated employees very busy in the development of the Coal Mountain, Greenhills, and Line Creek mine sites.

In 1984, Kiki started a second trucking company, K and K Forwarding Ltd, to include his daughter, Karen, and enhance his business practices for Kiki and Sons.1985, tragedy would hit Kiki and Elia with a house fire and the loss of their daughter. Another monumental moment of faith strengthening to propel Kiki’s trust in God.

Carrying on through the late 80’s and early 90’s continued to be busy times in business, building up to a minimum of 50 pieces of equipment. In 1996, Kiki decided to downsize from heavier hauling mining contracts, selling Kiki and Sons Transfer Ltd, and would build another warehouse in lower Sparwood to continue under K and K forwarding Ltd, which he ran until 2008. The bulk of these years were long hauls to Reno, Nevada for floor dry and other commodities and products to serve the western US and Canada. Despite retiring at the age of 77, Kiki never retired in his mind. His passion for trucking, the relationships he built, and the care he had for his home community continued to fuel his mind until he left us.

Kiki was a selfless, kind, and caring man to all who knew him. He remained a steadfast leader all his life to all of his family. He was most passionate about his faith in God, and the love of his life, Elia. Married over 70 years, Kiki never knew life without her. His final chapter was served still passing down his wisdom and faith to all who spent time with him.  He was a proud member of the Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. His spare time, later in life when worked slowed, was enjoyed taking family trips in his motorhome with his grandchildren, numerous wood working projects, and cutting meat for animals harvested by his sons and grandsons. He now joins Elia in heaven, as well as his daughter, Karen, and son, Douglas, and all of his beloved family and friends waiting for him.

Kiki is survived by his sons: Melvin and Kent (Cheryl); grandchildren: Angelo (Shannon), Karla (Steve), Kyle (Michelle), Kevin, Stephanie (Robert), Katie (Josh), Bryce, and Nigel; great grandchildren: Anthony, Matthew, Alyssa, Melody, Mason, Zachary, Isaiah, Lucas, Emma, Alexander, and Skylar. He was predeceased by his parents: Angelo and Dora (Rizzuto); children: Karen and Douglas; parents- in-law: Federico and Magenta Picco; sisters: Louvaine and Delva; and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and friends.

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