With strength and courage, as he lived his life, David Henry Bischoff, 69, died on Oct. 19, 2016 after being diagnosed with leukemia seven months earlier.
David was born in Detroit, Michigan and lived in Michigan until 1970 when he moved to Canada to escape the Vietnam War.
Heading west to Vancouver from Montreal, he spent many years as a social worker, among them taking troubled youth on canoe expeditions on the west coast of B.C.
He was a lover of nature and the wild beauty of the land.
David was also a gifted sculptor and carpenter, creating many carvings as well as unique furniture. He built two beautiful cedar strip canoes which he joined together Polynesian-style as a catamaran. They enabled him to make countless treasured trips with family and friends along the rugged West Coast as well as on lakes in B.C.’s Interior.
Since 1983, when he completed his boats, David took dozens of young people camping and canoeing: his children, his children’s friends and anyone else who was willing and able to crew. He gave the precious gift of the outdoors to so many.
Along with building canoes, furniture and homes, David worked in the movie industry, creating sets both as a carpenter and sculptor.
He was also a philosopher and a scholar, having encyclopedic knowledge of so many things and loving to converse about them.
David leaves behind his spouse, Martha Wickett, his children, Westlee Bischoff, Jimmy Craig and Laurel Albina, along with her spouse Jason Mertz-O’Scannlain and their children Gabriella and Jamil. He also leaves siblings Kalene, Harold and spouse Connie, Pat and spouse Larry, Michael, and Bob (predeceased), as well as nieces and nephews.
A memorial for David was held on Saturday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m. at the Elks Hall, 3690 30th St. NE, Salmon Arm.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Qqs Projects Society of the Heiltsuk First Nation, Bella Bella, will be gratefully accepted. Website: www.qqsprojects.org.