Obituary for David Paul Fitger
Fitger, David (Paul)
February 8, 1954 - November 21, 2022
David was born February 8, 1954 in Kamloops, BC. He was the seventh of 10 children, born to Alan and Marjorie Fitger. When David was 9, the family moved to Vancouver, BC. While growing up in the big city, he met his life long friend, Kelly Knowlan.
David started his Electrical career at BCIT; his 4 year Apprenticeship followed, about the same time that he met his future wife, Sharon. David and Sharon married in 1975 and celebrated their 47th Anniversary last September.
They had 2 children, Mardele and Nathan. They were busy years, raising the kids, making it up as we went along, career advancements, and as the Kenny Chesney song “Don’t Blink” says, “your babies growing like mine did, turning into Mom’s and Dad’s…”
Mardele married her high school crush, Chad, in 2003; they had 3 sons Keegan, Christian and Logan and Grandpa LOVED every one of them and LIVED for every visit. He proudly wore his Grandpa shirt that proclaimed “The man, The myth, The legend”.
David worked for many years in Fort McMurray - but the hours were long and it takes a toll on the heartiest of fellows. So, he left the Oil Sands and went to work for a company just minutes from home. He couldn’t have been happier; he had time for himself and was able to hang out in his garage where many an hour was spent working on cars, or creating his stained glass, often under the watchful eye of his brothers and buddies! It should be noted that if he upset “the wife”, he was barred from his garage!!
Life had a couple hard, hard knocks for him in his later life. In 2014 he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. He was adamant that “God’s not done with me yet” and began a long and heroic battle against the beast.
In 2017, Mardele died suddenly of a Pulmonary Embolism. His heart was broken.
He continued his battle against a metastasized cancer that involved his liver and his lungs. He fought until August 2022, when his Oncology Team told him there would be no more chemo, since the disease was pushing back and winning. They said 3 months, but not a year. It was 3 months and 5 days.
His son, Nathan, took a leave from his job to spend as much time as possible with his Dad. He could always get his Dad to laugh, or groan, depending on the subject! When the time came to transfer David from home to Hospice, Nathan took that final ride with him and the EMT’s. He was only there for 17 hours, when he passed at 3 AM, November 21st.
David leaves to mourn his wife Sharon, son Nathan and his partner Penelope, as well as his son-in-law, Chad LeBlanc and his 3 sons, plus many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. He also leaves his brothers Howard (Valerie) and Jim (Wendi), from Kamloops; Jack, Tom, Don (Sherry) all from the Calgary area, and sister Jennie (Michael) from Edmonton. He was predeceased by brothers Fred, Dan and Bill and his eldest sister, Florence.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Make a Wish Foundation in David’s name would be appreciated.
David’s funeral will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Master (216 Main Street S. Airdrie, AB) this Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 3:00 PM with Pastor Tim Wray officiating. If you are unable to attend the funeral service, it will be streamed through the church via this church link.
February 8, 1954 - November 21, 2022
David was born February 8, 1954 in Kamloops, BC. He was the seventh of 10 children, born to Alan and Marjorie Fitger. When David was 9, the family moved to Vancouver, BC. While growing up in the big city, he met his life long friend, Kelly Knowlan.
David started his Electrical career at BCIT; his 4 year Apprenticeship followed, about the same time that he met his future wife, Sharon. David and Sharon married in 1975 and celebrated their 47th Anniversary last September.
They had 2 children, Mardele and Nathan. They were busy years, raising the kids, making it up as we went along, career advancements, and as the Kenny Chesney song “Don’t Blink” says, “your babies growing like mine did, turning into Mom’s and Dad’s…”
Mardele married her high school crush, Chad, in 2003; they had 3 sons Keegan, Christian and Logan and Grandpa LOVED every one of them and LIVED for every visit. He proudly wore his Grandpa shirt that proclaimed “The man, The myth, The legend”.
David worked for many years in Fort McMurray - but the hours were long and it takes a toll on the heartiest of fellows. So, he left the Oil Sands and went to work for a company just minutes from home. He couldn’t have been happier; he had time for himself and was able to hang out in his garage where many an hour was spent working on cars, or creating his stained glass, often under the watchful eye of his brothers and buddies! It should be noted that if he upset “the wife”, he was barred from his garage!!
Life had a couple hard, hard knocks for him in his later life. In 2014 he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. He was adamant that “God’s not done with me yet” and began a long and heroic battle against the beast.
In 2017, Mardele died suddenly of a Pulmonary Embolism. His heart was broken.
He continued his battle against a metastasized cancer that involved his liver and his lungs. He fought until August 2022, when his Oncology Team told him there would be no more chemo, since the disease was pushing back and winning. They said 3 months, but not a year. It was 3 months and 5 days.
His son, Nathan, took a leave from his job to spend as much time as possible with his Dad. He could always get his Dad to laugh, or groan, depending on the subject! When the time came to transfer David from home to Hospice, Nathan took that final ride with him and the EMT’s. He was only there for 17 hours, when he passed at 3 AM, November 21st.
David leaves to mourn his wife Sharon, son Nathan and his partner Penelope, as well as his son-in-law, Chad LeBlanc and his 3 sons, plus many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. He also leaves his brothers Howard (Valerie) and Jim (Wendi), from Kamloops; Jack, Tom, Don (Sherry) all from the Calgary area, and sister Jennie (Michael) from Edmonton. He was predeceased by brothers Fred, Dan and Bill and his eldest sister, Florence.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Make a Wish Foundation in David’s name would be appreciated.
David’s funeral will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Master (216 Main Street S. Airdrie, AB) this Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 3:00 PM with Pastor Tim Wray officiating. If you are unable to attend the funeral service, it will be streamed through the church via this church link.