Douglas Lee Van Tine

Douglas Lee Van Tine was born March 10, 1932, to Daisy and Edward Van Tine of Ootsa Lake, BC. Doug was the second youngest of twelve Van Tine children, he was also the last surviving member of his immediate family. He died February 18, 2025.

One of the most traumatic events in Doug’s life happened with Alcan’s flooding of Ootsa Lake in the early 1950s. Doug and his brother Jim moved their 2-storey log home over 7 miles to higher ground so that they could stay at Ootsa Lake.

In 1955, Doug began working with the Highways at Southbank. It was at Southbank that Doug met the love of his life, Aneta Tetreau. Doug and Aneta were married at her parent’s home on Francois Lake on July 6, 1957…and there began a love story and partnership that lasted over 70 years.

Doug and Aneta built their first home on the shores of Francois Lake. All three of their children were born in that home: Valerie, 1958; Meryl, 1961; Brenda, 1962. It was also the time that Doug got his pilot’s license and bought his first airplane.

Doug had a wonderful sense of humour. He frequently played jokes on people and laughed when they reciprocated in kind. He told great stories about many of the jokes he’d pulled off.

In 1968, Doug accepted a Highway Foreman’s position in Atlin, BC. The whole family moved there in the grips of winter, travelling up the gravel, Alaska Highway. Doug and Aneta loved their years in Atlin, every day was filled with a new, exciting adventure: curling bonspiels, gold panning, flying, hunting, fishing…and wonderful friends.

In 1971, with another promotion, the family moved to Port Hardy. Once again, the family made new friends and there was a constant blur of new activities. Doug bought another airplane..sold an airplane; he owned 13 airplanes, in all. The family learned how to fish the ocean and enjoy Island life.

Doug was a family man, most importantly. For nearly 70 years, he and Aneta were partners in everything: they hiked mountains; paddled lakes and rivers: fished, hunted and adventured across much of British Columbia. They camped in wilderness areas that most people just dream of ever seeing.

They flew across mountains, glaciers, oceans and forests; they discovered hidden beaches and alpine meadows dressed in flowers and mountain sheep.

In 1976, Doug and Aneta, and their family moved to Enderby, BC. Doug and Aneta built their final home on a beautiful 13-acre property under the Enderby cliffs. The family stayed, and for 49 years Enderby has been home.

Doug’s memory was like an adventure story. People would call him to reminisce because they knew that he could tell them about any event, any date, any time in his life with absolute accuracy, time and again. Over the years we thought that maybe he would forget these things, or confuse dates, times, or people…but he never did.

Later, when Doug was limited mostly to his chair in the living room, he would just pick up the telephone and call someone on his list and talk like they had seen one another, just yesterday. Often these calls happened at 6 or 7 in the morning… or 3 in the morning, if you lived in Australia!!

Doug made friends wherever he went, and he treasured those connections. If you were Doug’s friend, you had a friend for life. He would do anything for the people that he loved. He had a system of honour that can only be attributed to his character and how he was brought up… in the days when a person’s worth was measured by how they treated others and how they kept their promises.

Doug believed in family. He loved his children and grandchildren with his entire being. His eyes lit up and his face would soften with a smile that he reserved for those very special people in his life. Nieces, nephews and god-children were also given a special place in his heart. But HIS person…his soulmate, the love of his life was Aneta; she is his forever love.

Doug was predeceased by his beloved children: Brenda Lei Castle in 1986, and Meryl Victor Van Tine in 2021. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Aneta Jean Van Tine; their daughter, Valerie Van Tine-Janzen, (Stewart Janzen) grandchildren Rein and Brianna Janzen. As well as his son-in-law, Curtis Castle (Sherri Castle) Quaid and Paige, and daughter-in-law Linda Van Tine.

Deeply loved and forever missed.

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-546-7237

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