Cliff Damberger

1929 - 2016

 Clifford John Damberger, beloved husband of the late Mary Damberger, passed away peacefully in Lethbridge on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at the age of 86 years.

 Relatives and friends were invited to Prayers at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 5:00 P.M.

 The Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, 5009 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. Burial followed at the Taber Memorial Garden. 

 Cliff will be sadly missed by his two daughters Dale (Garry) Barabe of Bredenbury, Saskatchewan and her daughter Danielle (Jaden) Robak; Shirley (Rick) Reti of Lethbridge and their daughters Kristen and Kayla; grandsons John Damberger and Brett Damberger; great grandchildren Courtney, Kira, Talen, Hunter and Gage; sisters Evelyn Reiter, Theresa (Lucien) Marsolais and Norma Bolokoski, sister-in-law Doris Damberger.

 Cliff was predeceased by his wife Mary Damberger; his parents John and Florence Damberger; children Jim Damberger and Sylvia Damberger; granddaughter Laurelle Coreman; grandson AJ Damberger; brothers Harvey Damberger and Walter Damberger; brothers-in-law Adam Reiter and John Bolokoski.

 Cliff was born in Bawlf, Alberta on October 26, 1929. Raised in Bonnyville, it was there he met and would marry his wife Marielle “Mary” Lavigne. As a young man, he would help his father weld and put food on the table. Handy with a welding rod and a keen hunter, Cliff was a major help to the family. However it was the oil industry that he was interested in. In 1952, he married Mary and they moved to the Cynthia, Lodgepole, Drayton Valley area where he drove truck day in and day out, with Mary supervising and dispatching two hundred trucks. This company (Forster’s Transport) was later sold and now operates as Gibsons. Over the course of their marriage, Cliff and Mary moved twenty seven times, following the oilfields.

 Cliff started Cliff and Clare’s Transport in 1960 while living in Pincher Creek. In 1965, after buying out his partner Clarence, he and Mary moved to Barnwell, where they planted their roots. Cliff loved to play cards and made a point of teaching his children at a very young age how to play crib. He and son Jim also hosted many famous late night poker games at their home.

 If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Cliff’s name may be made directly to the charity of one’s personal choice.

  Thank you to Dr. Mark Cahill and the team of doctors that allowed us to have our father for a few more months, and a special thank you to all the wonderful nurses who were there for him. Thank you also to the staff of Extendicare Fairmont Park for the care you provided.