Douglas Gale Kasper

Douglas Gale Kasper – April 2, 1930 – September 2, 2012. Doug was born on April 2, 1930 to Ottie and Ivy Kasper in Spokane, Washington. He grew up mainly in Alberta and Vancouver,BC and joined the U.S. Air Force where he was a staff sergeant and worked as a radar technician on B29 bombers, and he was posted to Okinawa, Japan. He married Grace in 1951 and the same year completed his military service at Hamilton Air Force Base in California where his first son was born. They then moved to Seattle where he completed technical training in electronics. They moved to Vancouver, BC in 1954 where he ran a color television sales business and worked for Great Northern Railway as a switchman.

Doug had a long business partnership with Neil Colville, a former player for the New York Rangers. Together they owned a television station in Whitehorse, and shared many great times on their boat and recreational property. His television business also involved video recording in the early 70s, and included making training videos for the Vancouver Canucks. Doug was a goalie for the Vancouver Flyers and was also a practice goalie for the Canucks.

He moved back to Washington in late 1970s to operate a business manufacturing satellite dishes and lived in Blaine, Mt. Vernon, Bellingham and most recently, Ferndale. He also worked in real estate.

Doug became a pilot in the mid-1960s and was a commercial pilot for more than 30 years, flying a number of propeller and jet air craft and float planes including Twin Otter, Cessna Citation and Dash 8. He ran his own charter flights operating off the Fraser River and flying up and down the B.C. coast. Doug also piloted for a commercial passenger service between Coal Harbour and Victoria, flying for West Coast Air as well as Northwest Air Link in the southern U.S. and his last posting was as corporate pilot for the private aircraft for Exports, Inc. in BlaineDoug is survived by his loving wife Linda of 14 years, sons Rick (Doni), Michael, and daughter Sandra (Geoff) and grandchildren Michael, Ricki, Julian and Aaron, along with numerous family and friends.

A memorial service is planned for a later date so that his life can be celebrated by all those who knew this remarkable man