Helmut Giesbrecht passed away peacefully on October 9, 2020, with his two children by his side. He will be sadly missed by his wife Wendy; his children Shelley (Andrew) and Shawn (Tanya); and his granddaughters Madison (Jon), Skila and Johanna. He also leaves behind his three siblings, Henry (Marty), Joy (Larry), Mary, and many nieces and nephews.
Helmut was born in the Ukraine on February 18, 1943 and came to Canada as a young child.
He earned his teaching degree at the University of British Columbia before moving to Terrace in the late 60s. He taught at Skeena Junior Secondary for 24 years and was a member of the Terrace municipal council, serving as mayor from 1981 to 1985.
He was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly in 1991 and during his two terms, served in the provincial cabinet as Minister responsible for the Public Service and Minister of Transportation and Highways.
Helmut will be remembered for his strong and caring heart, his work ethic, and his passionate advocacy for what he believed was right. He loved exploring the northwest with friends and family, and in later years, reminiscing about these adventures over the 'occasional' rum and coke.
He could build or fix or upgrade absolutely anything. Above all, he will be remembered for the love he had for his family and his devotion to his wife.
There will be no service; in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Muscular Dystrophy Canada or Parkinson Society British Columbia.
"I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference." (Robert Frost)
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