February 11, 2020
February 11, 2020 our only brother, Brian Challoner was suddenly taken from us...an accident to which we still have no closure.
Brian was a man that if you were to walk past, you may have dismissed as perhaps gruff and unimpressive, to those who never took the time to speak a few words to him, that is. If you did take the time to get to know him, you would have immediately been drawn into the presence of one of the smartest, sharp-witted human beings ever to be put on this earth.
His sense of humour was not his greatest attribute to this world, but one of the many gifts Brian carried through his life. From his years he spent learning mechanics at S.S.S. where at that time in his life he fell in love with the 68 Camaro, of which Brian enjoyed owning 3 of them over his lifetime. He did, for a short time, post secondary, take to riding a motorcycle, on which he and his best friend rode their bikes all the way to Tiajuana Mexico. Brian's passion for cars led him to become a very proficient mechanic, which was a wonderful gift to my sisters and I all of our lives as he was always so willing to help us with any need we had. He was an incredible big brother who could always be counted on for anything we needed.
From the age of 12, Brian was always working. He was a hard worker, and took great pride in his work ethic. After several years of workplace changes, he felt led to become an avionics technician.He attended SAIT in Calgary in his mid 20's to learn this trade. That was a wonderful time for Brian, as he both excelled at school, and also enjoyed the social life of living in the city. He found his passion in airplanes, his grades were very high, and when it came to applying his knowledge, that was where his gifting shone the brightest. He could diagnose airplanes that had been worked on for months, grounded due to electrical issues, and he would have them back up in the air, sometimes just over a weekend. He was flown from hanger to hanger all over North America to use his diagnostic abilities. IF you got him talking about those years he spent as an avionics tech, he could talk all day with such passion and excitement. He truly loved that work. But, at some point he was ready for a change and he became a red seal R.V. technician in AB, another field in which he excelled at. He completed all 3 years, plus red seal back to back one winter, and won an award for his achedemic achievement. Again, his ability to diagnose mechanical/ electrical problems was obvious.
Around 2010 he returned to Summerland to help take care of our ageing parents. Dad passed away in 2014, and mom in 2018. Brian had a very close relationship with our mom, her last years were full of doctor visits and sleepless nights due to chronic pain. Brian would be up throughout the night on a schedule to give her meds. They would enjoy watching different TV programs, gardening, canning, baking bread and going shopping for their outings.
Our brothers life feels cut short, he spoke with such excitement about his future the last weeks of his life. We know he is now happy and reconnected with loved ones in the presence of our Heavenly Father. But we miss him greatly, not only the 3 of us, his sisters, but Brians 2 brother in laws, and 5 nephews and 3 nieces...as well I am sure his friends he had at Integra Tire , his last place of work.
Brians life was a precious gift to our parents, as their first born, but also to us and many others. I wish we could contact many friends Brian spoke about over the years. He lost touch with so many. He would sit and talk so easily with anyone, he touched many.
Life does go on for us, but it will never be the same.