1936 ~ 2016
It is with the most profound of sadness that we announce the sudden, accidental passing at his residence in the RM of Lac du Bonnet on February 4th, 2016 of our loving husband and caring brother, father, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather Chester Carver. Left to mourn is the love of his life and his wife of almost 57 years, Dorothy Carver (Barker), four children Kelly Matsumura (Wayne), Paul Carver (Karren), Philip Carver (Christine) and Mark Carver (Traci) as well as their respective families and his many grandchildren in Nevada, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Most recently, Chester was so proud of the birth of his first two great grandchildren in Las Vegas, NV and Coquitlam, BC. Chester was pre-deceased by his parents Chester and Evelyn Carver (Barkhouse) as well as his sister Darlene, brother Dale, sister Debbie and brother Joseph.
Chester was born in Italy Cross, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia on July 16th, 1936 to a father who was a farmer and a house wife mother. He lived his younger years throughout the Annapolis Valley, attending various schools until he joined the Canadian Armed Forces in June, 1954. After basic training in Petawawa, ON Chester was posted overseas to serve two years in Germany as part of the occupation force.
Arriving back to Canada and being posted to Winnipeg with the 2nd RCHA in the spring of 1956, Chester met Dorothy Barker at the Salvation Army church. The two soon fell in love and were married on February 14th, 1959.
Kelly was born in September of 1960. In 1963, along with Kelly and then approximately 6 month old Paul, the family returned to Germany for a further 2 ½ years.
Returning to Canada in the spring of 1966, Dorothy pregnant with Philip, Chester took his discharge from the CAF and joined the City of St. James Police Department. While with the St. James Police Department, the family grew by one more with the addition of Mark. In 1973 Chester left the police department and took a job as the senior investigator and trouble shooter for Duff Roblin (later Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba) with Metropolitan Security.
In the summer of 1976, Chester and Dorothy started their own company and named it Can West Investigations & Security. From humble beginnings with only the two of them as employees, they grew the company through hard work and perseverance to a firm of 300+ employees. In 1988 they sold the company to an Australian firm, bought a few acres of land along the Winnipeg River in the RM of Lac du Bonnet and built their retirement home, moving out “to the lake” in 1991.
The word “retirement” could not accurately describe our father since he only became busier with every passing year. Chester maintained his involvement with the Lions Club and was elected President of the Lac du Bonnet chapter in 2000. He was instrumental in the organization of countless Lac du Bonnet rodeos, Canada Day celebrations (now recognized to be the best in Manitoba) and other community events. Chester sat on many boards and committees including the arena board, EMHAC, the Lac du Bonnet harbour committee and was a founding member of the Lac du Bonnet Food Bank.
In between all of these commitments, Chester and Dorothy found the time to explore the world. They travelled extensively throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Later in life, Chester began to pursue his life-long passion of writing. His particular gift was with mystery fiction. Chester was a man of meagre education, yet he was successfully able to publish four books “Mystery At Bird Lake”, “Murky Waters”, “Hidden Agenda” and, most recently, “The Woman Who Never Was”. He also published his own memoirs, for family both present and future.
Chester’s life of public service continued until the very day of his passing when he went on his final patrol as the municipal by-law enforcement officer for the RM of Lac du Bonnet. This was a role of which he was particularly proud and continued his life of public service and law enforcement from the age of 17 until he was 79.
Dad always had a story to tell, a prank to pull and a way to put a smile on someone’s face. While every person has it within them the ability to do good things, our father epitomized an entire life of good deeds and of giving. Everyone was better for having met or known him and, because of his actions, he left this world a much better place than he entered it.
Funeral Services will be Saturday February 13th, 2016 at 1:00 PM at the Whiteshell Baptist Church in Seven Sisters, Manitoba. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Chester’s name be made to the Whiteshell Baptist Church.
We love you and will always miss you, dad.
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Sharon and Bud Biddiscombe
We are very sorry to hear that Ches has passed away. Sunday morning breakfast at Seven Sisters Motel will never be the same without him there.
Alice King
The residents of Riverland Road , Daniel, Davies, Anderson, Westview Drive, and Arlen have truly lost a wonderful neighbor and friend. We will certainly miss Ches’s wave and smiling face. Deepest sympathy to the family. Rest in Peace, Ches.
Dave and Alice
Nelson, Sharon, Tom, Nelson Jr. and Chris
Nicole Dubois
I am truly sorry for your loss. Ches will be missed and he will never be forgotten.
My memories of Ches will always be of him joking, teasing and laughing. He was always kind, understanding and very supportive. It could be years between short visits and he would always greet me with a giant hug and the kindest of words. The last time he met with my Dad, they started joking about riding around together and visiting. It made my Dad very happy to know that they could pick up and laugh at themselves anytime they were together.
I wish you all as much peace as possible during this difficult time.
Nicole.
Andrea Yuen
My condolences to the whole family. Mr. Carver was a wonderful man.
Andrea (Dubois) Yuen
Dean Lawson
Mr. Carver was my hockey coach in Germany when we were stationed in Hemer. I still remember him laughing when we got upset on the ice and his patience. When we returned to Winnipeg I ran into him when he was a St James police officer ; he still remembered me ; Rest in peace Mr. Carver ; a tribute that you left an impression on a young boy that has lasted for 50 plus years.
Maurice (Moe) Butler.
Fond memories, lots of laughs and some good friendship was enjoyed with Chester, in the good old days of St James P.D. I served the City and worked with Chester on many shifts. The ranks of St James members are diminishing quite rapidly these days, Chester you will be missed. Rest in peace, dear friend,
Erika Uustalu -Nicholson
Dear Dorothy and Family,
We are saddened and shocked to hear of Ches’ passing. We will always remember him as a kind hearted, humorous, talented and principled man. He will be missed dearly by all.
With our deepest condolences and sympathy,
Archie and Erika Nicholson
John Fleming
Please accept our heartfelt condolences at this very sad time. It is a vert difficult time for the Çarver family and I can only hope that with this expression of condolence your family will find some support in knowing that Ches meant so much to so many people in the area.
I came to know Ches through our association with the RM and with his participation on our Emergency Management Team and like so many others we found him to be a captivating story teller with volumes of experiences gathered through his lifetime of adventures.
Warmest Regards
John Fleming
Emergency Coordinator
RM of Lac du Bonnet
Wally and Lorraine Brandt
Our deepest sympathy for Dorothy and the family. We will miss him at our meeting places such as coffee and lunch. His knowledge, sense of humor and friendly manner were very much appreciated. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bob Healey
My deepest condolence to the Carver family. I have fond memories of Ches while in the army and also when Mike Peters and I would visit with him. May he rest in peace.
Bob Healey