On May 20th, 2012, Don Petrar passed away.

He is survived by his partner and companion Darla, who he cherished. He is also survived by his daughter Andrea (Rob), son Steve (Mackenzie), granddaughter Lucy, stepson Dawson, and the mother of his children, Jan.

Don was predeceased by his parents Con and Betty, and his brother Keith.

Don was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, and grew up on the family farm near Dysart. He was a proud son in the Romanian community, and never forgot his roots and his heritage. He moved to Kamloops with his family in 1989.

Don loved his children and his granddaughter deeply. His pride in them knew no bounds. He was an outstanding father. Don loved to travel and explore, and he loved the outdoors. Fisherman Don has now been relieved of his quest to someday hook a BC trout that could measure up to a prairie pickerel!

Don loved to cook for his friends and family - so long as he was cooking cabbage rolls, creamed chicken with mamaliga, or chicken noodle soup, that is. He may have been the only person alive to consider dill a food group, and no matter what the recipe called for, it could always use a little more garlic.

Don did many different things throughout his life, from banker to camp cook, from businessman to bakery manager. But what he really was, was a dreamer. He was a poet, and a romantic who dreamed of someday writing the next great novel. Forever a jokester, his elaborate tall tales were delivered with such gusto that even the most serious face in the audience (usually his son..) couldn't help cracking a smile when he reached the punch line. Everybody will miss his stories, but we know he is smiling down on us from above. No doubt, he's putting the finishing touches on the grandest whopper of them all - to share when we're together again.

All those who knew Don, and those who's lives he touched, are invited to join us in a Celebration of his life on Sunday, May 27th, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Cathedral in Kamloops.