Borivoje "Boris" Idzan

Boris Idzan was the epitome of the saying "The older one gets, the smarter one's Dad gets." He was the most amazing man who could build or fix pretty much anything (often out of salvaged materials), and he was always there to support his family and friends. He was tough, smart, loyal and generous to all whom he knew and loved. He was able to talk, at length, to anyone about almost anything but was not a complicated man.

The healthy fit senior, who had plans to live to 105, passed away unexpectedly at 85 years after surgery and subsequent complications.

Boris was the third of four children born to Zvonko and Ana Idzan in the city of Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina (formerly Yugoslavia). His father worked for the railroad and Boris literally grew up as a child from the "wrong side of the tracks." While still children, their father abandoned his family and the four children were raised by Ana on her own (which Boris never forgot). These circumstances gave him the resolve to always care for family and provide a stable and supportive environment for everyone in his family. Boris was always very accepting of anyone disadvantaged in life.

Boris was very much a product of his post-WWII upbringing in the former Yugoslavia, with a most definite dislike of war and its consequences. He trained and excelled as a cabinet maker and maintenance worker, but he probably should have been a mechanic or engineer because of his love of and interest in all things mechanical, including vehicles, motorcycles and tractors. Had he not been taken so quickly by illness, he would have engineered the means of his recovery and return home.

Boris left the former Yugoslavia for work in Austria in the early 1960s and applied to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker. He arrived in Montreal by ship in 1966, and made his way to Calgary and then to Yellowknife, NWT, where he worked for the Giant gold mine as a carpenter. In 1970, he found his life partner, Debra, married in 1971, and they started their family in 1973 with their first of three sons. Boris and Debra moved to Salmon Arm in 1973 because of Debra's family and because the Shuswap is very reminiscent of Bosnia. They welcomed their second child in 1974 and the third in 1977. They lived in the same home for 53 years. He enjoyed good simple food, and especially the many Balkan dishes that Debra learned to make, plus a good cup of coffee (3 cream, 2 sugar) and a homemade sugar donut.

Boris found work as a maintenance worker, bus garage worker and cabinet maker with the Shuswap-area school district in 1974, until retiring in 2001 at age 60. Asked if he would like to continue working on occasion in his role as cabinetmaker, he said no, as he would be fishing. Boris loved the outdoors and going fishing, whether on an ocean, river or lake, and ice-fishing too (until he went through the ice one year, self-rescued which tempered his zeal for ice-fishing). There are countless photos of him holding a salmon or two with the biggest grin on his face. He also had an affection for cats, dogs and birds, and he would pick up and pet a wild duck or feed other wild birds in the back yard.

Boris was also an exceptional and multi-talented athlete throughout his life, excelling at track and field, swimming, skiing, and his main sport, soccer. He helped found the Salmon Arm Men's League in the 1970s, played in and coached numerous men's soccer teams, coached many youth teams, and refereed so many games.

There are so many things Boris did well that to recount them all is impossible. However, the best thing he did was to care for and support his family. He absolutely and unconditionally loved his family, especially wife Debra; sons Ivan (Phaedra), Tomas and Stefan (Ayron); grandchildren Alexander, Mairin, Madden and Ivy; brother Branko and sister Sarafina; niece Jadranka and nephew-in-law Perica. The passing of his middle son Tomas in 2004 almost broke his heart, and it was Boris who cared for Tomas' beloved dog Chico for many years after.

Boris is mourned by many and will never be forgotten as being the best any man, husband, father, or friend could be. We believe his only regrets would be that he left us too soon and that he never won a big cash lottery. However, he was the only jackpot we all needed in our lives.

Love you, Dad.

Your son, Ivan.

Funeral service: Oct.1, 2026, 11am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.