Obituary
Albert Johnston Golem (“Al”) of Comox B.C., Aug 8, 1942- June 28, 2022. Al passed away peacefully with his family at his side at North Island Hospital in Courtenay. After growing up in Shaunavon Saskatchewan, he did a plumbing apprenticeship in Gull Lake Saskatchewan but a shortage of work at the time led him to join the Armed Forces. During his time in the Forces, he worked in Germany and Egypt and was in Cyprus and the Gaza Strip with UN Peacekeeping Force. He met his wife Bev in Calgary and they had their two children in Calgary before being posted to New Brunswick and then on to Comox.
Al stayed in the Forces for 20 years until a back injury led him to retire. Following retirement from the forces he worked for a short time as a deckhand and then purchased and operated a number of Commercial Salmon Trolling Boats. The first of these boats was named the Monica G, to be followed by the Fauna, the Jehu and the Wayward One. He often told stories of adventures with deckhands on fishing trips and his son Grant and daughter Monica also had summer jobs as deckhands on his boat. He eventually sold this last boat and after purchasing and refurbishing a truck, he started Al’s Septic Service which he operated for a number of years in the Valley before selling the business. He enjoyed annual moose hunting trips with his son and friends to northern BC. In 1994 he purchased a lot and helped with the building of his retirement home in a quiet rural neighborhood where he spend considerable time landscaping the property and enjoyed growing a number of vegetable in his green house. He also enjoyed family barbeques, camping trips, playing poker at the Senior’s centre and socializing with friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Bev Golem, his children Grant Golem and Monica Parkin and grandchildren, Teagan, Lenna, Saxon, Jack and Kira, and also by his brothers Edward and George Golem. He is pre-deceased by his parents Edna and Clarence Golem.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Kohen and nurses Rhonda, Pat, Jennie, Andy, and Jenn along with countless other staff on the Telemetry unit for the end of life care provided and also his family doctor, Dr Reggler and his kidney specialist Dr. Booth for their ongoing care. Please join family for an informal celebration of his life, to be held at Coleman Beach covered picnic area on Saturday August 6th. Friends and family are welcome to drop in from 1-5 pm to visit and share stories or memories of “Big Al”.
A Limb has Fallen
A limb has fallen from the family tree
I keep hearing a voice that says,
“Grieve not for me. Remember the best times,
the laughter, the song. The good life I lived while I was strong.”
Author Unknown
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Albert Al Johnston Golem August 8 1942 June 28 2022 (age 79)..
Telford, Toneff and Boyd Burial and Cremation Centres
Death notice for the town of: Courtenay, Province: Colombie britanique