Ernest Donald Reuben Schweitzer (Ernie)

Ernest Donald Reuben Schweitzer (Ernie), age 76, passed away January 24, 2017 at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital following a brief illness. He was predeceased by his brother Donavon and parents Albert and Earla Schweitzer.  Ernie is survived by his former spouse, Patricia Lynne Carter (Peter Psaila) of Victoria, BC, his sister Erleen Kettleson (Gilbert Kettleson) of Prince George, BC, daughter Karin Schweitzer (Tom Marvan) of Vancouver, BC, son Kurt Schweitzer (Lerato “Thandie” Ryan) of Manotick, ON, granddaughter Talia Marvan, grandsons Evan and Alec Ryan-Schweitzer, and his dear friend Angie of Sidney, BC.

Ernie was born on June 19, 1940 in Flin Flon, MB and attended Birchview Elementary School. After graduating from Hapnot Collegiate Institute, he began working for Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting in the local Flin Flon mines. Looking for a way out of the mines, he became a certified jeweler in 1961. Dissatisfied with his fortunes in the jewelry business, he moved to Winnipeg a few years later to begin a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of Manitoba.

Ernie met Patricia (Pat) on the ski hill in Flin Flon and they were married in 1967 in Portage la Prairie, MB.  Soon after he graduated from university in 1968, Ernie and Pat moved to Port Alberni, BC where Ernie worked as a chemist at the local pulp & paper mill. Ernie and Pat were blessed with two children, Karin Laura in 1972 and Kurt Evan in 1976.

Among his diverse interests, Ernie enjoyed woodworking, clock and watch repair, and flying. He obtained his private pilot’s license and loved to fly his Piper Tri-Pacer aircraft from the grass strip at Port Alberni.  On one of those trips, he flew all the way to Portage la Prairie with Pat and young daughter Karin to visit family. After a number of years at the mill, Ernie started his own business in Sidney, BC called Candel Industries Limited. Candel manufactured scrubbers to reduce sulphur emissions from the smoke stacks in the pulp & paper industry.

Ernie was a loving father and grandfather and he will be greatly missed. There are no formal funeral services planned.  Ernie’s ashes will be interred at a later date.  At this difficult time, we would like to thank the many friends and family who have reached out and offered so much support. We would like to thank the medical staff at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital who provided Ernie with the best of care, and especially Dr. Andrea Lewis. We would also like to thank Mr. John Ellwood of Pacific Coast Cremation for providing very professional end-of-life services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation at http://sphf.ca/donate/.

“I do not think it is always sensible to be always sensible.” – Ernie Schweitzer, 1957 Flinonian

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