David Thomas Prawdzik

It is with profound sadness that the family of David Thomas Prawdzik announce his passing on August 11, 2024. His wife and soulmate Beverly, son Micheal Prawdzik and grandson Hunter McInnes-Prawdzik will cherish David’s everlasting love forever.

David will be held in the hearts always of his Dad for whom he was named, David Prawdzik Sr, David’s mom Elizabeth Oerlemans (Melvin), mother in law Elsie Reinhardt and siblings Kim(Jim) Schmidt, Dawn Prawdzik, Walter Prawdzik and Dale (Kim) Reinhardt.

As an uncle, David’s unconditional love was generously gifted to his nieces and nephews by the time and experiences he shared. Those stories and memories will live on as told by Travis, Ryan (Kerri) Unger, Tara (Doug) Critchlow, Alicia (Chris), Brittany Schmidt, Tabitha, Mckenzie (Brendan), Robert (Shelby) Davey, Mallory (Tanner)Cook, David’s Godson Thomas Davey (Ava), Walter JR. (Samantha), Grace, Noah Prawdzik, Jenny (Barry) Steinhubl , Junia (Kristian) Shortridge, Kailey and Goddaughter Danaye Reinhardt. David was a “Great”uncle to Brandon, Devon, Cole, Taylor, Finlay, Vaetta, Gage, Ridley, Brooks, Huxley, Weston, Maryn, Oaklynn, Indie, Walter IV, Olivia, Liam, Charlotte and a Great-Great uncle to Dion. David was so very proud of his nieces and nephews accomplishments and was excited to know of two more babies coming into this family in the coming months. David has many Auntys, Uncles, Cousins, In-Laws and friends that will remember David fondly.

David was predeceased by his father-in-law Berne Reinhardt, his brothers Jimmy and Jamie Prawdzik, his nephew James Schmidt, his paternal grandparents Walter and Agnes Prawdzik and maternal grandparents Joseph and Veronica Pow.

David was born at St.Paul’s hospital in Vancouver on October 31, 1959. His earliest years however were in Winnipeg Manitoba, until the tragic car accident and death of his younger brother, changed the trajectory of David’s family as he knew it and led to his move to Medicine Hat, Alberta with his dad and sister Kim. David participated in Sea Cadets there and attended St Thomas, St Marys and McCoy High School. Ever the busy guy with the ambition and challenges of his youth, riding on a motor cycle, David could be found skipping school, often in the local pool halls, where he mastered the game with his custom cue and was likely to have won him a dollar or two.

David left school early to join in on the Alberta oil boom of late 70’s/early 80’s, working for his dad and along side his brothers, nephews, uncles and many many friends for Bow Island, Westburne and Comanche Drilling. Those years were filled with fast money and fun times. It led to some challenges too. David had a reputation to be a bit of a scrapper, never shying away from a fight, he often joked if he didnt have it covered his two brothers were too happy to step in and cover him. During those times, David also made many friends, he was well respected and David loved to reminisce about it all.

David was torn between life and his family on the prairies and the love deeply rooted in his heart for the west coast. His treks between Alberta and Vancouver began and he travelled by any means necessary to get there. This included thumb out, his old station wagon, the train and his motorcycle. David split his time between making that fast oil money on the rigs and enjoying the good life he wanted to create for himself and his son Michael in their Lonsdale Avenue apartment. Eventually with Michael, David committed to making his home in Vancouver and the work ethic instilled in him, in the oil patch, saw David working tirelessly roofing for various roofing companies on the north shore.

It was not long after that that a beautiful neighbour in the same apartment building caught David’s eye and when said neighbour left David’s laundry folded one day in a basket, David shared, he knew then that he had to make his move and introduced himself to the love of his life Beverly Reinhardt. David talked of his love for his kind and gentle Beverly, “CHMILU Beverly” became David’s personal message to Bev. David and Bev dated for a couple years and Bev brought David to her hometown, Chilliwack where Bev’s family embraced David and Michael. David and Bev were married on September 5, 1987 and while David and Bev started their married life in North Vancouver, they soon moved to Chilliwack and made their home on Strathcona Road for the next 30 years.

David’s desire to provide for his family still saw him leaving for periods of time to go back to Alberta and work the rigs through the winter and he worked numerous jobs, including a substantial number of landscape customers locally that he tended to. David’s desire to be home with his wife and son, saw him spread thin. In about 1999 David was hired by the Agro Pacific. David weathered the changing faces of the mill and remained a valued employee of what is now Trouw Nutrition. David loved his job, noting that not just anyone could run the extruder and he loved to share stories about his respected co-workers. At the feed mill David (AKA; Turbo) was known for the pace at which he worked and that David was to be a cat whisperer of sorts. David took great pride in helping with catching the wild cats, having their veterinary needs met and releasing the cats, where they did their job tending to the rat/mice control. David rescued ‘Millie”, who everyone joked, won the cat lottery when David brought Millie home as a kitten.

With the steady Monday to Friday 8- 4 work schedule, David found time to indulge in a lifestyle he truly felt blessed to have created alongside Beverly. They loved to take weekend trips to Seattle, day trips to Bellingham and they could have become professional cruisers. David loved the gym and worked out 4-5 times a week. David cycled to Vancouver several times and always owned a motorcycle, noting ‘Ruby’ his V-Max was the most polished bike in Chilliwack. He loved to garden and especially loved to reap the harvests of the many fruit trees in his backyard. He often sent out screenshots of some fresh in season fruit dessert that Bev made for him and he was not shy about over indulging . David loved to host the steady stream of family and friends that benefited from his generosities. Whether it was Camp Stillwood, beach days where rocks were flipped and little crabs were caught, bike riding the Seawall and yes ‘Heart attack hill’ was conquered by many, the football games, concerts, the lakes and trails, berry picking, gelatos, sushi or just a place to park a camper; Davids family were blessed for those years and experiences, creating all those memories gifted by David. How many were introduced to their first motorcycle ride by David. David loved life.

Family is where David’s heart pumped with an abundance of pride. David was proud of his grandson Hunter, number 5 of the Chilliwack Chiefs. While he often tried to tame his pride, it never stopped David from sharing by text or talking about the stats, standings or updates on the happenings of Hunter and his accomplishments on and off the ice. David shared bits and pieces of conversations that he and Hunter would have and believed that seeds planted would and will inevitably grow.

David will be carried to his final resting place on top of a hill at the Chilliwack Cemetery by his grandson Hunter, brother Walter, nephews Robert, Thomas, Noah, and Kristian. The void left in the lives of those who knew and loved David will not ever be filled and so in a final act of love, the family invites you to celebrate David’s life with us on August 19th at 1:30 at Mt Cheam Woodlawn Funeral Home. Pastor Shawn Vandop will officiate. A gathering of family and friends will provide an opportunity to share in fellowship and lunch to follow.

In Bev, David found a peace as if he had not known before and together their faith albeit sometimes challenged grew. David was born again and celebrated genuine love for his Lord and Saviour. The bible taught David to take on a leadership role within his family that fostered an unconditional love filled with encouragement, that he readily shared with anyone that sought in conversations or advice seeking that simply spoken was to “look up”.