Henry John Sundquist

It is with great sadness that Henry Sundquist, a former executive director for the Kindale Developmental Association of 28 years and lifelong steward for the natural beauty of British Columbia, has passed away unexpectedly on November 7, 2021 while camping at Kettle Creek in the Creighton Valley.

Henry is survived by his wife of 49 years Maria Sundquist, his children Stephanie (Mike Dusel) and Eric (wife Rachel expecting in March 2022), and his grandchildren Julianna and Kaiuss Dusel. Henry was preceded by his father Wiekko Sundquist, mother Vera Jones, and sister Elsi Protheroe.

Henry was born in Eckville Alberta on February 8, 1945. His family moved to Coquitlam, BC in 1947. Henry’s love of the outdoors was fostered by his father Weikko; and this love took him all over BC hunting and fishing every time he could with friends and family. Henry’s dedication to athletics earned him the Doyle Athletic Award in 1964; and he continued this commitment to excellence after graduating from Como Lake Highschool in 1965 by obtaining a skiing scholarship with Washington State University to pursue a sociology degree. During and in between his time at university, Henry was employed as a commercial fisherman; which took him up and down the Americas from Chili to Alaska. He returned to BC to attend SFU when he met his wife, Maria Dominelli. Henry and Maria were married in 1972 and moved to Victoria BC for several years before returning to Coquitlam to welcome their daughter Stephanie in 1979. They moved as a family to Vernon, BC in 1981 and fell in love with the Okanagan Valley. It was in Vernon that Henry joined the Kindale Developmental Association, where he could assume his passion for working with people. Soon after in 1988 Henry welcomed their son Eric to the family; and his children would continue to be the most important part of his life.

A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, Henry devoted his life to pursuing equal treatment of all people, especially those with disabilities. Kindale was Henry’s second family, advocating for an inclusive community and kindness to all. A passionate outdoorsman, Henry loved fishing, hunting, skiing, and hiking all of British Columbia; and through his love of travel, his family has travelled the world. Henry was always the first to make you smile, laugh, give a toast or lend a hand, and the last to leave the dance floor at any event. Keep on dancing Henry we love you and will see you soon. Henry will be missed deeply by his family, friends, and the community at large where his unending kindness has reached.

A funeral service (by invitation only) will be held Friday November 19, 2021 at Pleasant Valley Funeral Home. A celebration of life with an open invitation to all that would like to attend will be held on April 16, 2022, at Paddlewheel Hall from 2pm-4pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests that a donation be made to his lifelong passions of either the Kindale Developmental Association or Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. If you wish to attend a livestream of the funeral service on Friday Nov 19, 2021 you can find the link on Pleasant Valley Funeral Home’s website under Henry’s name in the Obituaries section https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/vernon-bc/henry-sundquist-10439935 Please feel free to add any memories to this site.

Arrangements in care of Pleasant Valley Funeral Home, Vernon, B.C. 250-542-4333.