Richard Augustine GANTER

The family of Richard Augustine Ganter is saddened to announce the loss of our beloved patriarch.

Left to grieve are daughters, Deneen (Jeremy) and Shelley (John); grandsons, Braydon, and Connor; brothers, Joe (Carol) and John; sisters, Marie (Wes) and Maggie (Norm); sister-in-law, Vicki numerous nieces and nephews, and special family friend Shannon Stratton. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Emily, and brother Henry.

Rick was born April 16,1944, in Macklin, Saskatchewan, to parents Augustin and Pauline Ganter. He was raised with his five siblings in Denzil, Saskatchewan, until his mother’s death when he was five. His two sisters and youngest brother went to live with their grandmother, while he and his older brothers stayed on the farm with ‘Pop’.

Rick, his brothers and their friends learned to skate on the frozen sloughs, played in the fields, and got into trouble on a regular basis. One memorable tale involved Rick, who was an altar boy in the Catholic church, sneaking the sacramental wine.

The day he turned 18, Rick left Denzil with $50 dollars in his pocket. He tried to join the military as his brothers would but was rejected because of his flat feet. Those feet would carry him across Canada, from B.C. to Newfoundland, through many careers, from cook to insurance salesman to coal miner.

In 1962, a fateful car accident put Rick in hospital for months in traction. A young lady, in a similar accident, would be brought in a few months later. Out of this chance meeting would come friendship, then love, marriage, two daughters and almost 60 years together.

They settled in the Elk Valley in the ‘70s and Rick worked at the Elkview plant in Sparwood until his retirement at 62. He was the first one to push the button in the control room to start up that plant and many have stories of working with ‘Gimpy’ Ganter.

Rick liked to be busy. In his youth that meant hunting, camping, playing and coaching hockey, bowling, and softball; in later years he discovered curling and golf. Always busy, he kept a large vegetable garden and helped neighbors with snow removal in the winter.

Volunteering was high in his priorities. Rick joined the Lions in the early ‘70s, and served as treasurer, secretary, vice-president, president, and Zone Chair. He was awarded the Judge Stevenson medal and the district 19E Jim Wilson Memorial Award and a 50-year service award. He was also thoroughly bemused to find himself Fernie’s Citizen of the Year in 2015.

Rick was thrilled to become a Papa to his two grandsons and loved spending time with them. Many nights were spent around his table enjoying his signature BBQ ribs or steaks followed by boisterous games of Uno, that lasted hours.

The loudest laugh in any room, the willing hands in any hard time, and the giving heart that made many lives better for knowing him…he will be missed.

The family would like to thank Dr. Varacas, Dr. Michaels and all the nurses and staff at the Elk Valley Hospital for the excellent care Rick received in his final weeks. He had nothing but gratitude and praise for all of them. And a special thank you to Canon Andrea for her friendship and guidance in his journey. He was so grateful for her words of support.

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