Ben Pietz

July 29, 2022
In Loving Memory ~
Ben Pietz, of Nanaimo, BC passed away peacefully on July 29th, 2022 - 54 days short of his 92nd birthday.
Ben, son of Maggy and Emil Pietz (homesteaders) is predeceased by his sister Eleanor, his brother Johnny and his sister Viola (who, at 100 y/o, passed 8 days before Ben - they are surely walking through the gates together).
Born in 1930, in Medicine Hat, Alberta Ben grew up in a sod house before the family moved to the Lower Mainland. Like many young men at the time, Ben found work at the local sawmill. It was there that he answered a small newspaper ad for a First Aid Attendant and began a life of service. Ben spent 37 years with the BC Ambulance Service (and its earlier incarnation, The Metropolitan Ambulance Service). Among many accolades, he was proud to be a Charter Member and the Founding President of the union (CUPE Local #873). He helped establish the original driver training program for BCAS and was awarded the Canadian Exemplary Service Award by the Governor General of Canada for his dedication.
The quintessential outdoorsman, he spent his spare time trolling for chinook and exploring the backroads of BC with his trusty .308 rifle, searching for mule deer and moose where water for coffee often came from the local mud puddle strained through a cheese cloth. Always in possession of a 4x4 or an RV of some sort, some of his happiest times were spent exploring with Carol, his wife of 49 years. Driving to Alaska (3x), Texas and across Canada were highlights. He found time to spend many years in the Mount Brenton Power & Sail Squadron, earning a lifetime membership and was honoured to serve its community as Commander. Often seen with a Pentax camera in hand, he spent his life chronicling his adventures and the BC Ambulance service. His photos and scrapbooks have formed a significant part of the BCAS archives contributing to his legacy.
He is survived by his loving wife Carol, 3 adult children and their spouses. As he aged, his grandchildren (Kale, Kenzie and Brody) and great grandchildren (Asher and Ivy) became highlights in his life.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life Thursday, August 25th 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Royal Canadian Legion, 1630 E. Wellington Rd. Nanaimo B.C.