Sep 20, 1951 - May 24, 2018
We lost our beloved brother, father, grandfather and friend after a multi-year fight against a terrible illness, Multiple System Atrophy. A dreamer who managed to attain so many of those dreams, he was an adventurer, a raconteur who loved to travel, to see and try new things. He crossed half of Europe and North Africa on a moped, lived on a kibbutz in Israel for two years, spent several winters in warmer Latin American climates and never saw a cuisine he wasn't willing to try. He admitted he sometimes made himself nervous but was usually able to overcome it, especially on a ski slope.
Sober second thoughts and the occasional disaster were usually fodder for a good story. It was always a learning experience but that didn't mean he wouldn't try again. He could admit to his mistakes and shortcomings and saw the humour in them. There were few things he found funnier than human nature, his own included. He spoke Hebrew, Spanish and even a few words in French.
He wanted to build with logs, ended up building his own log home and then made it a career, acquiring a reputation for the quality of his workmanship. A significant part of his work was, in his own words, "renovating hippie houses". He was known for his humour, his sense of the absurd, and respected for his views, his experience, his insight, his integrity and his knowledge. He was a man who loved to build and work with his hands, who inspired tremendous loyalty from his friends, who loved being a father and a grandfather.
He is survived by his son Lee (Kendra), grandchildren Daija and Arcade, daughter Kristi (Mike) Teske, stepson Ivan (Victoria) Lares and grandson Christian, brothers Darcy and Vaughan (Blanca), niece Cheyenne and a large blended family who all held a place in his heart.
He was predeceased by his parents and his youngest brother, Richard.
Colin's life was too short and ended hard but he got a lot done.
A celebration of life will take place on Oct. 6, 2018 in Grand Forks.