Tribute

Our beloved father ‘Papi’ was born in Konigsbruck, Germany. His childhood days were spent playing sports, chess and Skat.

During World War II, he trained as a fighter pilot. His squadron, Eismeer, was based in Finland and flew over northern Russia. In 1944, after his wingman accidentally sheared off the tail of his plane, he made a parachute landing near the port of Murmansk. His next six years were spent in a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp. He learned to speak Russian with hopes he could escape one day passing himself off as a Russian.

On February 29, 1949, after international pressure for the Soviet Union to release its POWs, he was finally released. His dream of emigrating to Canada was realized in 1950. His first job was at a logging camp in Ontario. Moving out west to Calgary, he married Hedi Sulzmann and started a family. After a summer holiday on the coast he was offered a job at the new kraft mill in Powell River in 1966.

BC was paradise to him and he would share his passions: salmon fishing, moose hunting, mushroom picking, flying his Cessna and exploring the wilderness backcountry, with the many relatives and friends who came to see him. He taught his children to ski, play tennis, chess, dive off the high-diving board and appreciate the beauty of nature. ‘Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund,’ was an expression we heard often.

Every summer there were camping trips across BC to Radium Hot Springs, Golden Ears Provincial Park and the Rockies. He was an active member of Powell River Flying Club and Powell River Chess Club. After retiring from the mill in 1986, he joined the BC Senior Games Zone 2 team. Throughout the years he set many records for field events and his record still holds for long jump. His last senior games was in 2010 at 88 years old.

He loved to sing, watch the eagles from his deck and was happiest when his family was gathered around him. He lived at home until he was hospitalized in June with pneumonia. Six weeks before his 94th birthday, he passed away peacefully on July 26, 2016, with his family by his side.

He is survived by his children Ralph (Heather) Keller, Tom (Maritza) Rost, Charlotte Cossentine, Karen (Phil) Wade, Wendy (Bob) Rost and Kim (Tony) Leach, grandchildren Chrissy, Tiffany, Robert, Ally, Austin, Jamie, Rachelle, Austyn and Griffin and great-grandchild Brooke.

A special thank-you to Dr. DuToit, fourth floor nursing staff and home support workers for all the kindness and care you showed to our dad. No service by request.

Success: having lived a life, raised a family, and left some fleece on the hedges as you walked by.