Force: Canadian Army
Born in Bucanan SK in 1911, Clarence Gabler was the oldest of 3 children of William and Mary Gabler. Both parents were previously married and had children before. Clarence and his parents and his siblings moved to the Peace Country in 1928. They moved to a ranch across the Wapiti River about 25 miles from Grande Prairie. At first, they lived in a trapper’s cabin (which needed a great deal of cleaning). This area eventually became Grovedale and at the time there no ferry yet. Clarence joined the army on November 19, 1942, and spent about 2 years at various army camps around Alberta. He also took his basic training in North Bay Ontario. During this time, in 1943, his father died suddenly, but Clarence could not attend the funeral because of bad weather. Because of sinus problems, Clarence was ordered back to Alberta. While stationed in Edmonton in 1944, he met his future wife, Verah Smith. They married on April 2, 1945 when Clarence was given spring leave for 2 months to seed his crops. In September 1945, he was ordered to Calgary for his discharge from the forces. The title of his father’s land had been transferred to him earlier, and Clarence also applied for a Veterans Homestead Lease grant in 1946, receiving $2320 for breaking the land and buying equipment and lumber for a house. Verah and Clarence raised 5 children: Darlene, Bill, David, Wayne, and Dorothy. They stayed in Grovedale until 1957, (and around that time his mother lived in Pioneer Lodge in Grande Prairie, passing away in 1958.) Clarence sold his land, and the family moved to Dimsdale. Two years later, they moved to a house in Grande Prairie, and sold their Dimsdale farm. Clarence died in Grande Prairie at age 75 in September 1986, and Verah died in January 2011 at age 94 also in Grande Prairie.
Source: Along the Wapiti pp. 412, 195-196
AGS Obituary Index (Clarence and Verah)
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune April 4, 1945 p. 4 c. 5 “marries”