Archie Shafer in Ft. Saskatchewan AB
April 25, 2001
- Born 1918 Eau Claire, Wisconsin
-Served with the R.C.A.F during the war and was discharged as a Flying Officer.
-1955 wrote his Commercial Pilots exams and began his career in the north as a commercial bush pilot.
-Flew with Athabaska Airways out of Lac La Ronge until 1961 when he accepted the position of base manager for Sask. Gov't Airways in Uranium City.
-1968 saw a move to McMurray Air Services, upon retiring from flying he had logged better than 22,000 hours in the air.
-Took over Waltz Travel Agency and Insurance in 1972 renaming it By-Air Travel.
-Went to work for Eldorado where he obtained his 4th class steam ticket and worked in the power house as #2 operator.
-Departed the north in 1975 for parts further south.
-Mom and Dad made their home in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta for the past 22 years.
We have been very blessed by a father with wonderful foresight. Dad presented us with an autobiography of his life about 6 years ago. When we read about the interesting life my father lived, from working on the building of highways in BC, to digging up a mammoth tusk in Alaska while working a placer gold mine, to flying as a US citizen in the RCAF, to his years in the north as a commercial bush pilot and ultimately becoming the grandfather of 9 and great grandfather of 5. Dad always said " when my time comes, I will have no regrets, I have lived a great life." Indeed he did.
submitted by Wanda (Shafer) Husak