BLISS, Lou Van Patten
June 25, 1922 - December 19, 2009
Van passed away surrounded by his family after a short but courageous battle with cancer. Van was born and raised in Prince Albert, and was the youngest of six siblings. He married Elva Elizabeth Blair on June 20, 1941. This was the beginning of a lifetime of love and happiness shared together with their four daughters. Van and Elva were happily married for 68 years!
Van’s early years were spent in Toronto building aircraft. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, and spent his life as a proud Veteran. Later, he managed hotels in Calgary, and then went on to follow his passion for the outdoors by owning and operating “Van’s Camp” outfitting for 30 years at Lac La Ronge, SK. He always had a special way with animals, and fostered a love of nature that was unsurpassed. Above all, Van’s greatest love was for his family. Our husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor and friend will be deeply missed. He leaves to mourn in his passing his loving wife Elva, daughter Diane (Andy) MacInnes and their sons Scott, his son Peter, Brian, and Michael (Wendy) and their son Sean; daughter Sandra (Richard) Green and their children Lori (Geoff Boulton) and Cameron (Jessica) and their children Ben and Mercedes; children of the late Donna and Bob Glass, Wendy (Glen) Vlaj and their children Robbie and Christopher, and Susan (Johnny) Muir and their children Jonathon and Lukas; daughter Debbie (Vaughn) Hansen and their daughters Kristen (Derrick) Pawliw and Jenna (Dustin) Law; his sisters-in-law Vera Bliss and Eva Bliss, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. He was predeceased by his daughter Donna Glass and son-in-law Robert Glass, his parents Dr. W.C Bliss and Ida Mae Bliss, his father-in-law Donald Blair and mother-in-law Edna Blair, his brothers Ken, Doug, and Chlorus Bliss and his sisters Bernice Carter and Dorothea Cross. The family would like to give a special thanks to the outstanding staff of the Palliative Care Unit at Victoria Union Hospital, as well as dear friend Judy Thoms, and Van’s long-time friend and much loved and admired doctor, Dr. Dale Ardell. Please join us in celebration of Van’s life on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Gray’s Funeral Chapel with Avonda McKay officiating. In lieu of other tributes, memorial donations can be made to the Palliative Care Unit, Victoria Union Hospital. 1200 – 24th Street West, Prince Albert, SK S6V 5T4. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray's Funeral Chapel, Marianne Turcotte, Funeral Director.