Obituary of Keith Sundquist

It is with sadness that we announce that after an ongoing illness, the passing of Keith Edwin Sundquist, resident of Dawson Creek, BC on May 23, 2021 at the age of 78 years.   

Born in Garden Bay, BC on November 25, 1942, Keith was the first of eight children for Ted (Hjalmar) and Helen Sundquist.  He spent his childhood in Pender Harbour, where he attended school and worked at odd jobs as a teenager, until he enlisted in the armed forces in 1959, at the young age of 16.  He returned the harbour to complete his education and earn his grade 12 diploma.  He also earned the title of being a certified carpenter – woodworking became a lifelong hobby for him.

Keith’s first marriage in 1967, welcomed his first child, Lee Edwin in June 1968 and two years later his daughter, Rebecca, arrived.   As a young man, he relocated his family from the Sunshine Coast to the small community in northern BC, Mackenzie, where he worked at the BCFP mill, volunteered as an RCMP auxiliary officer and volunteer firefighter and later took work at the new development of Tumbler Ridge at the Quintette Operating Corp. The north was an area of our province that he continued to be drawn to each time he left, and where he spent much time taking photographs of the land and its animals.  He had a passion for photography. 

In 1984, he and his children moved back to the Sunshine Coast, settling in Sechelt, where he would become reacquainted with a family friend, Donna Olsen (Whyte).  Shortly after, they decided to build a life together and were married in February 1985.  In July of that year, they welcomed the youngest of their children, Richard.  With Donna’s children, Jessica, Julie, and Daniel – they had a full house!  It was through the love for Donna that he found Christianity and began his life of serving God and developing his relationship with our Father.

In 1986, they decided to make a move north and found themselves in Tumbler Ridge, where he drove haul truck for the coal mine. During this time – he found his way back to his hobby of creating wood items – toys, cribs, planters, cannisters, there was no end to the creation – and he and Donna attended many craft sales in the area.  He truly loved to make things and be able to socialize and sell them to the customers.

After a variety of moves throughout the province, a diagnosis of his health condition, Keith and Donna returned home to Dawson Creek – close to family, friends and their church, the Dawson Creek Alliance.  His walk was very important to him and he often turned to prayer.

Keith had a love for fur critters – his little dog companions over the years – Bojangles, and then Hammie – who kept him company while being ill.

Keith was predeceased by his mother and father, Helen & Ted; his sisters, Sharon, and Sandy; and his brother-in-law, Dennis Dyer.  He will be forever remembered by his wife of 36 years, Donna; his children: Lee, Rebecca (Rod), Jessica (Ken), Julie, Daniel (Dominique) and Richard; his grandchildren: Kaleigh (Weston), Dustin (Sam), Samuel (Sierra), Tristen and Brooke; his great grandchildren, Wren and Nena; brothers: Hank (Lynn) and David and sisters: Nena, Jo, Karly and Marcy, along with nieces, nephews, cousins and other family.

A service will be held by the family at a later date. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Keith to Camp Sagitawa, Box 61, Moberly Lake, BC, V0C 1X0.

Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium