THIRD GENERATION

11. Mildred Margaret Maunu was born on 17 Oct 1910 in Loreburn SK. She died on 27 Nov 1981 in Vancouver BC. She was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Burnaby BC.

She was married to Wilfred Arthur Clearwater on 9 Oct 1937 in Vancouver BC. This information from Terry and Ernest Mannu

Mildred Margaret (Maunu) Clearwater

Mildred was born on October 17, 1910 on the family's homestead west of Loreburn. In the spring of 1936 at the age of 25 she went to work in Saskatoon. There she met Wilfred (Buster) Clearwater and in May of 1937, looking to escape the drought on the Prairies, they moved to Vancouver where they were married on October 9, 1937. Their daughter Marlene was born on August 27, 1941 while living in their first home in Vancouver, an apartment block on the corner of 12th Street and Granville on Vancouver's West Side.

In 1943 they bought a house on 7th Street in the nearby Kitsilano district. That same year Mil's parents, Sander and Elizabeth and her younger brother Marvin, began spending the winters in Vancouver with Mil and Bus. Three years later, Sander died of a fatal heart attack while celebrating his 36th wedding anniversary at Mildred's on January 18, 1946. After that, Elizabeth and Marvin stayed with Mildred and Buster for several years until Marvin went on his own.

Their son Dale was born on April 7, 1950.

Shortly after they moved to Vancouver, Buster began his career in the automobile towing business. He worked for Vancouver Auto Towing as a dispatcher and office manager where he gained valuable experience in he business. A few years later he created Buster's Towing, which was to become one of the largest towing companies in the world. With lucrative contracts with the Vancouver Police Department Buster enjoyed a very comfortable life.

Buster and his wife, Millie, were instrumental in creating and leading the automobile towing industry in British Columbia as we know it today, by creating and operating Buster's Towing from 1945-1975. Buster's Towing (named by Millie), the first long term police towing contractor in Vancouver, was instrumental in creating the towing division of the Automobile Retailer's Association and Buster's towing and service vehicles preceded the emergency road service fleet of the British Columbia Automobile Association in the Lower Mainland. Among Buster's many accomplishments were being elected to the World Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame in San Diego in 1992, being made a lifetime director of the Pacific National Exhibition and being made an honorary member of the Vancouver Police Motorcycle Drill Team. He was also a proud member of the Masonic Order, Shrine Gizeh Temple and Oriental Band, Van Zor Grotto, the Elks, Vancouver's Rotary Club and Feet Supervisor's of British Columbia.

Mildred died on November 27, 1981 and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Buster died on March 16, 1999 after battling lung cancer for several months and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery next to Mildred
Buster and Mildred Clearwater Obituaries

Mildred Margaret (Maunu) Clearwater

On November 27, 1981 Mildred Margaret Clearwater of Vancouver, B.C. survived by her loving husband Wilfred (Buster); 1 daughter, Marlene Colston and 1 son, Dale; 4 sisters, Mrs. Nora Hackinen of Dunblane, Sask., Mrs. Irene Page of Calgary, Alta., Mrs. Pearl Springhill of Lynnwood Washington, and Mrs. Helen Collier of Burnaby, B.C.; also 2 brothers, Ernest Maunu of Saskatoon and Marvin Maunu of Vancouver; 4 grandchildren, Dean and Cindy Colston, Sherry King and Rhonda Caron; many nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral service on Thursday, December 3 at 12 noon at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The Rev. George B. Fee officiating.
Obituary information provided by Helene (Maunu) Collier

Buster Clearwater

W.A. (Buster) passed peacefully in the presence of his family on March 16 at UBC Hospital. "Buster" as everyone knew him had been battling lung cancer for several months, but was able to live at home to within a month of his passing, as was his wish. He was born April 21, 1912 and was predeceased by his wife Mildred (Millie) on November 27, 1981. He is survived by his daughter Marlene and husband Rick; his son Dale and wife Angelita; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and long time companion Yvonne Deverill.

Buster and his wife, Millie, were instrumental in creating and leading the automobile towing industry in British Columbia as we know it today, by creating and operating Buster's Towing from 1945-1975. Buster's Towing (named by Millie), the first long term police towing contractor in Vancouver, was instrumental in creating the towing division of the Automobile Retailer's Association and Buster's towing and service vehicles preceded the emergency road service fleet of the British Columbia Automobile Association in the Lower Mainland. Among Buster's many accomplishments were being elected to the World Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame in San Diego in 1992, being made a lifetime director of the Pacific National Exhibition and being made an honorary member of the Vancouver Police Motorcycle Drill Team. He was also a proud member of the Masonic Order, Shrine Gizeh Temple and Oriental Band, Van Zor Grotto, the Elks, Vancouver's Rotary Club and Feet Supervisor's of British Columbia.

As parents Buster and Millie were the most giving people on earth and if they had any faults at all, it was spoiling their children rotten. They will forever be remembered for their kindness and generosity towards their children and selfless treatment of others. Both were considered among the most sociable of hosts and late in life model patients. Throughout dad's many hospital visits and stays, he was endeared by his nurses and caregivers as one who never complained and showed an overwhelming appreciation of the care given him. If there was an award for such things they would both be eligible recipients.

Special thanks to all his caregivers for the care given him in hospital and at home and especially those at UBC Hospital for superlative service in Buster's last few weeks. It would be remiss not to mention the staff a the White Spot in Oakridge (especially Judy) who he befriended along with his companion Yvonne. They thought so much of Buster and Yvonne that they invited them to their annual Christmas parties and even delivered food when illness prevented them from walking over to the "Spot".

Donations to the nurses and caregivers of your choice would be appreciated as they do one tremendous job under enormous pressure these days. Service will be held a Forest Lawn Funeral Home on March 27 at 2 p.m., 3789 Royal Oak Ave., Burnaby.

Obituary information taken from March 20, 1999 edition of The Vancouver Sun