Obituary of Hellmut Patzelt
Hellmut Patzelt truly lived a life full of adventure. He was born on April 20, 1927 in Hermannnseifen, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. In 1946 his family along with approximately 2.4 million Germans were expelled to Germany. Many were given less than 24 hours’ notice. In 1953 he determined that there was no future under the Communists in East Germany and emigrated to Canada. He ironically said “that I only knew two words of English – Casso Bianco”, which was the name of the ship that exclusively brought 1100 immigrants landing in Quebec City. A friend had arranged a train to take him to Regina and eventually he made his way to British Columbia.
He worked as a labourer, carpenter, choker in the logging camps and eventually ended up in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island where he worked for MacMillan Bloedel as a fork lift operator on the graveyard shift. After sleeping he would study for his real estate license and subsequently, he became an accredited appraiser. In 1958 after receiving his Landed Immigrant Status, that is, he became a permanent resident, he returned to Germany and met his future wife of 62 years – Christina. They decided to get married but first he had to return to Canada to earn enough money for a plane ticket. On her flight to Canada the turboprop plane blew two engines and was forced to land in Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay) in frigid temperatures. Christina’s life as a nurse was already filled with adventure but that is a story for another time. They got married after she arrived.
Hellmut moved his family north to Dawson Creek in 1966 and started on a distinguished career as a civil servant. He was the Director of Environmental Services for what was then the Peace River – Liard Regional District. Before it was split in two the Regional District was responsible for approximately 84,000 square miles or one-quarter of the land area of BC. That was his playground and this was the spark that lit the fire of his passion about the people, his love of animals and the outdoors. He was known up and down the Alaska Highway. If you travelled with Hellmut you would meet First Nation Chiefs, gas plant operators, forest fire fighters, farmers, politicians, truck drivers and more. They would share stories about their respective adventures, trade favours and make introductions to others. This would become a foundation of his success in serving the people.
He retired from the Regional District after 22 years being recognized for his expertise and contributions especially in the area of waste management and the handling of waste pesticides. He was dedicated to the environment and especially recreational lands. He would engage many people in upgrading parks including the Environmental Youth Corps. His public service went beyond government. He was a dedicated volunteer for many organizations, including Scouts, the Chamber of Commerce, Pioneer Village (raising funds by giving mule rides) and even in his late Eighties was a promethean force behind the Farmer Advocacy Office that assisted 58 landowners dealing with oil & gas issues.
Hellmut loved animals. All his pets (cat, dogs, horses and mules) would come to his call or whistle. His prized Labrador Retriever Princess would respond to whistle, voice or hand signals. He was an animal whisperer. He rode his Peruvian Paso (there were less than a 100 in Canada at the time) in the Calgary Stampede. He played polo and calf rope with his beloved mule Tondero. He won the Canadian Plowing Championship in Wanham, Alberta. In 1992, after turning 65, and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Highway, he organized a wagon train from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks, Alaska. The 2350-kilometer trek would take 102 days. He was famous for his playful parade entries with one of the best being a two-seater rig he created that looked like a backwards rickshaw with his mule behind him – literally, the “cart before the horse”. He would say that mules were not stubborn, just misunderstood. He loved the outdoors and when he wasn’t in the back country you could see him in his bright green 18-foot freighter canoe on the various rivers in the area.
Hellmut was a Renaissance man. He took writing courses and ended up publishing some of his works which naturally were mostly about his adventures and of course, mules. He was a cowboy with a poet’s soul. He learned to weld at 69 years of age and would build his own inventions that included a contraption for hauling logs out of the forest and a device to hold his animals so he could reshoe his animals alone. He was a builder too. Every year he would build an outdoor skating rink for his daughter Rebecca who was a figure skater. After one of the Olympics, he built a set of parallel bars in the basement. He loved “The Farm” on mile 5 of the Alaska Highway where they lived for 41 years. He literally built the house, pole shed and greenhouses with his own hands.
Hellmut had cancer for more than 30 years and survived many surgeries. He was a life force to be reckoned with and certainly no disease was going to slow him down. He passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 16th, 2021 at his home with all his immediate family beside him. He is survived by his wife Christina, son Robert (Tracy) and daughter Rebecca (Andrew) and his four grandchildren Max (Isabel), Morgan (Angus), Nicholas (Charlotte) and Sarah (Matthew). Hellmut was loved and respected. He will truly be missed. They don’t make cowboys like that anymore. There will be no celebration of life at this time. The family would like to thank all the friends, Dr. Hargrave’s office and Dr. Meyer, the paramedics and all the palliative care professionals, too numerous to mention but you know who you are, for their support especially in these last few weeks. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the South Peace Palliative Care Society. Cheques can be sent to #3 929- 106 Ave, Dawson Creek, BC, V1G 2N8 or by E-transfer at Lake view Credit Union using the email sphpcs.give@pris.ca
As the sun rays fall upon my face, I feel you in my heart
Your light will always fill my soul. We’ll never be apart.
Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Hellmut
Patzelt 1927 2021..
reynars funeral home & crematorium
Décès pour la Ville: Dawson, Province: Colombie britanique