Herbert Douglas Foerster, age 93, passed away on Dec 21, 2024. Doug was predeceased by his beloved wife, Rosemary, and his eldest son Stewart. He is survived by his children Marvin and Janet; son-in-law, Norman; his grandchildren, Wynter and Demitrius; sister-in-law, Alix; close cousins Liz, Irene & Tony, Wendy & Ted.
Also left with fond happy memories are his many close creative nieces and nephews; and many beloved friends in Tumbler Ridge, including the Whites, the Helms, the Muellers, Trevor and his pup Abby, and others.
Doug grew up in Nanaimo BC, with two older brothers, and an English Bull dog, where their dad worked as the Director of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, at the Nanaimo Marine Biological Station. His passions were Geology, flying, skiing, sailing, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, basketball, fishing, and playing his violin. He knew the local Nanaimo mountains so well that, when he was 20 years old, he was requested to lead a rescue party up Mount Benson to a remote area after a severe plane crash occurred there on Oct 17, 1951.
After earning his Professional Engineering – Geology at UBC, he married the love of his life, Rosemary, and they enjoyed more than 54 years of marriage. With his wife and three children, living in both BC & Alberta. Doug managed to fit flying in after acquiring an amphibian Lake Buccaneer airplane to traverse between Vancouver and the Gulf Islands in BC. His sailing adventures led to wining almost every sailing race he entered in his 27’ Catalina dubbed “the “Wind Warrior”, much to the chagrin of the other sailing competitors. The winters were spent on ski trips with family and friends to various ski resorts like Crystal Mountain, every ski hill in BC and Alberta, and some in Europe and USA. Doug was the chap with the perfect ‘ski form’ as he traversed the moguls and uncut snow. The summers were spent at horse events with his amazing black quarter horse, Kim.
Later life in Tumbler Ridge, Doug was involved in the local fossil Museum Society, the Emperor’s Challenge for many years, the 49 Forever Club, and lead the creation of the Tumbler Ridge Hospice and Palliative Society. He made some very good lifelong friends. Doug was such an amazing, brilliant, man with a huge heart for others, and the animals. He was always a big part of his kids’ lives, and his sibling’s families. Doug will be missed very much. Rest in peace.
We would like to thank the Dawson Creek Hospital staff for their compassionate care of Doug, in his final days.
A simple commemoration will be held in the summer of 2025 in Tumbler Ridge, at Bullmoose Flats.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Doug Foerster can be made to a charity of your choice.
