Obituary of Charles Ador Buhler Lasser

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Charles Lasser, longtime resident of Chetwynd, British Columbia, on Saturday, December 9, 2023, in the Chetwynd Hospital at the age of 92 years.

Charles Ador B Lasser was born June 3, 1931, at the family home in Powell River, British Columbia to parents Robert Lasser, a yardman for the Powell River Company and Martha Buehler. Charles was the fourth child of five. Their father suffered from wounds resulting from his service in WWI and soon had to retire from his job at the pulp mill which placed the family on hard times during the depression.

Charlie started school at Westview Elementary in a new six room school.

Charlie’s first job was working on Sundays at the local gun range in 1939 at the age of 8. He earned 15 cents for working for three hours loading clay pigeons and later in cleanup.  

Charlie’s older brother enlisted in 1940 and soon the family moved to Surrey in 1940. The family now living through the war had the three eldest children enlisting with the eldest deployed overseas and the next two stationed in Canada. In March 1944 Charlie’s oldest brother Bob was killed in action in Southeast Asia. This was a devastating blow to the family. The family carried on with a small farm.

After moving to Grandview Heights area of Surrey he continued school. This time in a one room school with six grades. No running water and the outhouse out back.

Charlie did what he could for the family and after completing grade 9 he started to contract work. The family moved again and purchased a dairy farm in Pitt Meadows.

Charlie was one of the founders of the Pitt Meadows Lions Club and eventually became a lifetime member.

Charles met the love of his life Edith Howe and were engaged May 1, 1952. The couple married August 4, 1954, at the home of Edith’s parents Grant and Mildred Howe in Pitt Meadows.

The newlyweds made their home on the Lasser Family farm in Pitt Meadows. This was a dairy farm and eventually they turned to raising beef cattle. The couple had three children Sheri, Bob and Don.

Charlie started up a trucking company delivering topsoil and gravel. Charlie also was interested in local politics, and he ran for council and was elected in 1963.

Charlie always wanted a ranch and in 1971 on a trip up north he found what he liked in Chetwynd, BC. Charlie soon bought the ranch and travelled back and forth until he sold the Pitt Meadows Farm and moved his family to Chetwynd.

Soon after arriving in Chetwynd, he ran for city council and was Mayor for many years. Along with being Mayor he also joined many boards and committees over the years.

Charlie was one of the founding members of the Organic Society.

Charles was predeceased by his wife Edith Howe Lasser, parents Robert and Martha Lasser, his older siblings Robert Lasser, Martha Lasser Waldron and Frank Lasser.

Charles is survived by his daughter Sheri (Rod) Crawford; sons Bob Lasser, and Don (Rhonda) Lasser; grandchildren Joseph (Laura) Crawford, Michael (Anna) Crawford, and Jennifer Chen; great grandchildren Ava Crawford and Kaira Crawford; brother Douglass Lasser; many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Chetwynd Hospital that helped him in his final days.

A Celebration Of Life for Charles will be held at the Chetwynd Legion on Saturday, April 27th, 2024, at 1:00pm.

"Something I learned from my parents is that

pride in their child does not come from whether they fail or succeed,

but rather in their willingness to try"

~ Author Donald Lasser, Charles' son.

For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Charles to the Chetwynd Palliative Care Unit, 5500 Hospital Rd, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0.

Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium