Thomas Alan AMUNDSEN

It is with deepest sadness I would like to say that my wonderful husband, Tom Amundsen and father to Nels passed away on February 9th after a battle with a cancerous brain tumour. He fought bravely and with dignity right to the end.

Tom was born in Edmonton in 1947 and was the eldest of six children. When he was 9 his family moved to Penticton and his Dad became the city Electrical Engineer. This was where he got his love for skiing on Apex Mountain. He also loved hockey and tennis.

Tom went to UBC for an Economics degree and was also on the UBC ski team. We moved to Fernie in 1974 with 3-year-old Nels and Tom started work at Kaiser Resources before it became Westar. He became an Electrician and worked at the mine for 23 years, mostly in management. He then started Amundsen Electric which our son still runs. He was the first Electrician at Fernie Snow Valley and then at Fernie Alpine Resort the Outside Operations Manager for 6 years. After that he worked for P&H (Komatsu) and also in Nunavut. During this time Tom also built a beautiful log house for the family in Fernie.

Tom was known for his independent, calm nature and he was always ready to help a friend. He was brave, kind, loving and gentle but at the same time, a tough dude.

Tom loved back country skiing, was a hang glider pilot, played hockey and eventually became a sailor. In our sailboat we went from Vancouver to Ecuador, through the Panama Canal and ending up in Georgia, USA. We also spent 5 years cruising in Vancouver, the Gulf Islands and Alaska.

Hiking with family and friends was also something he loved. Tom had a great passion for life and never stopped studying and expanding his knowledge. He was a natural leader, a loyal friend and a devoted husband and father. We will all miss his quiet sense of humour and big smile.

Tom was always ready for an adventure and I think he’s having one right now with our daughter Eirin. Look for them on Polar Peak on a full moon night with Buster.

Family, friends, doctors, nurses and home care have all been kind and compassionate as they helped Tom along his last journey.

Tom is survived by his wife Shirley, son Nels and Ann, 2 grandchildren, Seth and Eden, 3 sisters and lots of cousins, nieces and nephews.

THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL A LATER DATE

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