Joseph Daniel Lousier

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Joseph Daniel (Dan or Danny) Lousier on Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC. Born August 26, 1944 in Penny, BC, to Theresa (nee Pastor) and Joseph Earl Lousier, Danny spent most of his childhood in Vanderhoof, BC, with frequent visits to his grandparents farm in Penny. Dan attended UBC, Prince George College and Notre Dame University (Nelson, BC), graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in 1968. He was married to Bernadette Letchford in August 1968 and has four daughters. His graduate career took place at the University of Calgary, receiving his MSc in 1972 and his PhD in 1979, at which point the family moved to Lantzville, BC, so he could take a job in Nanaimo. Through his years as a soil ecologist, Dan worked for government, industry and the private sector. He was passionate about forestry, silviculture, and ecology, both professionally and personally. Dan raised his four daughters in Lantzville, BC, a small community on the east coast of Vancouver Island. After his children were grown, he relocated for work to Prince George, then to Willow River, east of Prince George, where he gardened and shared the rural life with his beautiful dog, Tasha. In 2002 he admitted defeat to northern winters and moved to Victoria for a year, and then up to Cowichan Bay, where he lived in a historic cabin at the beautiful Cowichan Bay Farm for 12 years. Recently, because of declining health, he returned to Victoria. Dan loved sports, both to watch and to play. In his earlier years he played football, fastball, and hockey, and curled. As a hockey referee, he had the opportunity to meet, and skate with, Ernie Gare, Danny Gare, Maurice Richard, and Gordie Howe. He was a talented fastball pitcher, with a string of no-hitters and even a few perfect games. Throughout his adult life Dan also loved to garden building amazing vegetable and fruit gardens both at the family home in Lantzville and in Willow River. Dan is survived by his four daughters: Christa (Mike), Monique, Marisa, and Lia (Mike); his five grandchildren: Rafe Sigaty (12); Torin (9), Rylan (7) and Braeden (2) Lousier-Hicks; and Acadia Lousier-Montan (3); his sisters Terry-Ann (Clifford), Bonnie (Clifford) and Lorraine (Adam); and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his beloved dog, Tasha (2008). A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 20th at 2:00 p.m. at the chapel at Royal Oak Burial Park, followed by a short reception. The family wishes to extend our thanks to the nurses, doctors, staff and support workers at VIHA and Royal Jubilee Hospital for their quality of care. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to either the BC or AB Childrens Hospitals.