Vegreville mourns local man killed in B.C. avalanche
Vincent Loewen described as committed Christian, active in the community
When the alarm would ring at the Vegreville Alliance Church, it was Vincent Loewen who responded.
"You just had confidence in him as a leader," said Loewen's pastor and long-time friend, Darryl Crocker.
"You just knew you could turn it over to him and follow his lead in whatever the situation was.
"When he spoke you listened."
Loewen was killed on Friday in an avalanche that occurred just east of McBride, B.C., and on Sunday, during a church service, the congregation took time to mourn the 52-year-old.
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Crocker described Loewen as a very committed Christian, one who was very active in the community.
He ran Loewen and Associates, a chartered accounting firm, which he built from the ground up.
Crocker said Loewen was a passionate family man who raised two kids with his wife, Janice. He remembers Loewen smiling as he openly welcomed people to the church.
"That's what people remember about Vince," said Crocker. "Very friendly, very warm when welcoming people in. Just a beautiful guy to work with and to laugh with.
"It's still hard to take it all in, that he's not here anymore."
Brandon Crain — another pastor at the church — remembers Loewen as an adventurous man who enjoyed working with his hands.
"He was actually my neighbour, so I would run into him all the time, even just outside of our church building," said Crain. "He was always there to lend a helping hand.
It's still hard to take it all in that he's not here anymore.- Darryl Crocker
"If I needed anything I would go to Vince for it."
Crocker said there were tears in the eyes of his congregation today as the church and pastors honoured and said goodbye to a long time member.
"If there was a concern with someone at the church he would come and ask me what he could do to help or what were the details," said Crocker. "I knew he was asking because he wanted to help and not because he wanted to know.
"I'm going to miss that very much."