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A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
DAFOE, Clarence Frederick - at the age of 86, passed away peacefully at the Hanna Health Care Centre on December 7, 2004, with his loving wife Anna at his side. 'Fred' was born in Veteran, Alberta on September 14, 1918. He was the second of four children born to Clarence and Ella Dafoe. In 1928 his mother passed away and in 1930 his father Clarence was remarried. Fred went into basic training in 1939 in Red Deer. He later went to London, Ontario where he joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940. In 1942 Fred boarded the HMCS Saguenay as Able Seaman until it was torpedoed and disabled in 1943. He then served on a Harbor Craft until he was reassigned aboard the HMCS Magog. The HMCS Magog was rammed and towed into harbor (webmaster's note: Magog was torpedoed, not rammed). Again, Able Seaman Dafoe was reassigned. This time to the HMCS Hespler where he remained until victory was declared and Fred returned home to the farm near Hemaruka in 1945. Fred was awarded 4 service medals for his honorable contribution to his country. Shortly after his return home from serving in World War 2 Fred attended Sunday school, where he met a graduate teacher named Anna Kroeger. They were married in 1946. They bought a farm 3 miles from where his Dad homesteaded. Fred and Anna were blessed with five children, a son, Dennis in 1947, followed by another son, Barri in 1948. Then a daughter, Michelle was born in 1952 and in 1956 another son, James, arrived, and then in 1958 their 5th child, Carson was born. In 1959, Fred's father Clarence retired from farming and sold the farm to Fred and Anna. Fred, in turn, sold the farm he and Anna had bought from Mike Pidhirney and moved over to the Faraway Ranch, becoming the third generation to farm and ranch on those lands. Sadly, in 1979, tragedy befell them when their youngest son, Carson was suddenly taken from them in a car accident. In 1981, they retired from farming and sold the ranch to their son, James and his wife Wendy. They moved to Hanna where they settled comfortably into life in their new community. Fred loved the farm and all aspects of it. He enjoyed telling and retelling his children and his grandchildren stories of his life on the ranch. It was hard, hard work to build and maintain the ranch and as he would tell the stories you could hear the pride in his voice and see the years melt from his face. His greatest love on the ranch was horses, be it breaking in a new colt or racing across the pasture on 'Snap' to get a cow that had got out. Even up until a year ago he was giving advice to Jim about a horse that was giving him some trouble. Fred was also very proud and supportive of his family and their accomplishments. Fred always loved to curl, entering bonspiels in Veteran, Youngstown, Consort, Coronation and Hanna. When he and Anna retired to Hanna he was most excited because their new house was 'right handy' to the curling rink. They even curled as far as Nelson, B.C. in a summer bonspiel. When they retired they also bought a motorhome and began to travel extensively across Canada and they especially enjoyed touring the east coast visiting New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland; and the west coast particularly Vancouver Island. They also spent a few winters down in Phoenix, Arizona with Fred's sister, Nell. Predeceased by his son Carson in 1979; Fred is survived by his loving wife Anna of Hanna; children; Dennis (Diann) Dafoe of Calgary, Barri (Lonnie) Dafoe of Prince George, B.C., Michelle (Shannon) Mitchell of Beaumont, AB., and Jim (Wendy) Dafoe of Veteran, AB., 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; sisters, Nell Glass of Vancouver, B.C., Jean Sankey of Calgary, AB., Amy (Gordon) Hewitt of Red Deer, AB., Rosemary (Eddy) Leake of Quesnel, B.C. and Eunice (Bob) Anderson of Red Deer, AB. as well as numerous other relatives and a host of many friends. Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 11, 2004 at 10:30 A.M. in the First United Church, Hanna, AB. with Rev. Dr. Clarence Sellars officiating.
Ships served in: HMCS SAGUENAY - Survived the torpedoing of Saguenay on 01 Dec 1940 HMCS MAGOG - Survived the torpedoing of Magog 14 Oct 1944
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For Posterity's Sake 
