It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear husband, father and grandfather, Dann Lebedoff. Dann experienced a massive stroke on July 1, 2012, and on August 2, a second stroke took him from us at age 67. Dann was born at Nelson, B.C., the youngest of two to Tim and Nita Lebedoff (nee Barabanoff) and grew up at Crescent Valley, B.C.
He is survived by one sister, Stella Rilkoff of Crescent Valley, B.C.
As a young man Dann attended the Kootenay School of Art which helped mold his love of music and the visual arts and eventually led him to his life-long career in printing.
Dann worked in many print-shops, including his own as he was well known as an entrepreneur. But the highlight of his career was working in the printing plant that printed The Vancouver Sun and The Province newspapers.
In 1965 Dann met Olga Makortoff of Grand Forks and the two were married in 1966.
Together they moved to Vancouver where they lived for number of years. Because of his love for the Kootenays, Dann often moved his family back and forth between Vancouver and Grand Forks.
Dann’s restless spirit did take him on an interesting career path and at one point he ended up working at the Arctic Circle on the oilrigs. While in the Arctic, he observed the large aircraft that descended on the frozen camps where he worked (sometimes in temperatures below -40 degrees Celsius). This inspired him to create a series of airbrush art prints.
Dann is survived by his wife Olga, and their three children: April (partner Steve Dickson), Jeff (wife Olja Makhnutina and daughter Ariana) and Mark (partner Gaia Howe). Dann often said Ariana was the apple of his eye.
Dann was involved with the Kinsmen Club in both Kelowna and Grand Forks. He was also on the Board of the Boundary Museum Society and had a close relationship with the retirees of the Rotary Group of Grand Forks and often attended their dinners with Olga.
In his last years Dann was attempting to write a novel before becoming ill and was not able to complete it.
The family would like to thank everyone that assisted Dann with his challenges in his last years and to everyone who sent food and cards to the family and called with their condolences. The funeral service was held at the Grand Forks Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 7, 2012, at 10 a.m., with a lunch in the USCC Hall at Grand Forks. His burial takes place Wednesday, August 8th at Krestova Cemetery.