PEMPLE; Rick. Sept 12, 1949 - Jan 8, 2014. Rick slipped away peacefully on January 8, 2014, after a valliant battle with Leukemia. Rick was born on September 12th, 1949 in North Vancouver and enjoyed the fun times that comes with been part of a large family. Rick had 4 brothers and 4 sisters. The family spent 8 years living at Half Moon Bay in Rick's early years, before moving to Abbotsford where he spent the rest of his life. Rick is best known for his business Capt’n Crunch Auto Wrecking and Recycling, which he started in 1971. A true recycler, he saw value in everything. Demolition derby's became a passion of Rick's, entering his car at the PNE, Agrifair, B.C. Place Stadium and other fairs and winning more than 300 trophies. His later years brought him to boating on Harrison Lake, which he loved so much he finally bought a small cabin. Through his recycling talents he disassembled one log cabin in Mission, adding onto his existing cabin in Abbotsford and then building a beautiful log cabin at the lake moving everything on the water either pulling the logs or his homemade barge behind his 17' Larson boat. We would pick up the logs and building material at 10 Mile Bay which were brought in his recycling bins by his '60 Kenworth driven by long time Friend and Coworker Frank Dutra. It was nearly impossible to get him to leave and only winter months brought him home, but he always longed to be back at the cabin. Rick was a member of the Harrison Yacht Club and Valley Power and Sail Squadron.
Friends and family meant everything to Rick. He enjoyed working alongside his son Rickie and in recent years, passing the running of the business on to him and his nephew Lee with the support of their wives, Rochelle and Jessica. Rick was able to step back and now enjoy retirement. Rick's passing will leave a void in the lives of so many who loved him, especially his wife Gloria, his sons Rickie (Rochelle) and Lance, and their mother Virginia, brothers John (Lori), Joe (Corrie), Dennis (Karen), Larry (Rosanna), and sisters Rosemarie (Rick), Margaret (Louie), Cecilia (Ernie), Kathy (Harvey). Two beautiful granddaughters, Bella and Addy, many nieces and nephews and even more great nieces and nephews, and more on the way. Gloria gratefully acknowledges the kind, gentle and genuine care that was given Rick by the Chemo and Oncology Ward Nurses during his time at Abbotsford Regional Hospital. A special thank you to Dr. Paul Galbraith who went side-by-side with Rick in his battle. A Celebration of the Life that was Rick's will be held on January 25th at the Abbotsford Arts Centre at 2:30 pm. In memory of Rick the family kindly suggests that a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada sould be fitting: http://www.llscanada.org/#/waystohelp/donate/