February 25, 1948 - May 30, 2021
Ulrich Hans Mendel was 73 when passed away on May 30, 2021. He was born in the small rural town of Blankenheim, Germany on February 25th, 1948. In 1952, three years after the end of WWII, his mother and father immigrated, with their three young children, to Canada.
Times were challenging, during their first years in Canada, due, in part, to intermittent employment for Hans (Uli's father). After several moves across Canada, they finally settled in Kitimat.
Uli finished high school in Kitimat in 1966. He spent two summers, previous to graduating, in Prince Rupert on a private fisheries patrol vessel as a deckhand, monitoring creeks from "creek robbers" (illegal commercial fishing).
Many of his off hours were spent recreational fishing and exploring the many islands and passages on the north coast. Later he often shared his adventures with anyone who wanted to listen. In 1967 he started working at the Prince Rupert Fishermen's Co-op fish processing plant.
In 1970 he met Norma (Schulte) and they were married in May 1971. After living on a houseboat in Prince Rupert for two years, they moved to Terrace in 1973, where Uli took up welding.
Later in the 70s he worked for BC Hydro constructing the powerline from Telkwa to Terrace and in the early 1980s he drove a school bus in Terrace. Uli was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and in the 1990s worked as a caretaker for their meeting houses located in Kitimat, Terrace, and Prince Rupert.
Uli enjoyed spending his mornings swimming at the local pool and riding his bike around town. He loved the outdoors and frequently walked the nearby trails. Fishing in the local lakes and rivers, raising chickens, and gardening on his small family farm on Kalum Street were favourite pastimes.
Uli loved his family and loved to talk to friends and strangers alike wherever he was. His wife, children, and grandchildren were so important to him and he loved them all dearly. He had connections to many people with his helpful, friendly, easygoing nature. He will be remembered as a gentle giant and missed by all.
He leaves behind his wife, Norma, four children; Wendy (Brad) Jessop in Provo, Utah, USA, Rachel (Phil Nelson) Mendel in Comox, Dee (Juan) Jimenez in Winchester, Ohio, USA, and Kurt Mendel in Prince Rupert and seven grandchildren. He is survived by one sister, Rika (Mel) Lyne in Squamish, two brothers Eckard (Darlene) in Smithers and Dirk (Suzanne) in Smithers.