Werner Kleinitz

After a short battle with cancer, Werner Hermann Kleinitz died at the Mineral Springs Hospital surrounded by his family. He was 89 years old. He is survived by his wife Ruth of 55 years, his son Kai, daughter Jennifer, his sister Helga (Gustl) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Werner was born in Berlin, Germany, the oldest of 8 siblings. During the war the family was evacuated eventually settling in Vilseck, Germany. As an athletic youth his favourite activity was climbing. In his early twenties, each summer he quit work for six weeks, got on his motorcycle and spent his time climbing extensively throughout the Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. He climbed mountains such as the Matterhorn and even attempted the north face of the Eiger, but had to turn back partway up due to bad weather. His trade before he left Germany, was a film projectionist but really, he was the ultimate handyman – there was nothing that he couldn't fix or build.

In June 1960, wanting to visit his sister Hilde who had come to Canada, he travelled by ship and landed in Quebec City. Not speaking a word of English, he travelled by train to Banff. Upon arriving, he got a job at the Soils Lab (which he didn't like) but he also worked on the Banff-Jasper highway, driving the heavy machinery, which he enjoyed. In 1961, he found a job at Sulphur Mountain Gondola Lift, where he worked for 29 years, eventually becoming the lift operations manager. While there, he worked as a millwright, repairing and maintaining the gondola lift at Sulphur Mountain as well as the ski lifts at Mount Norquay when the ski area was purchased by Banff Lifts. He also mentored many young mechanics throughout the years. For several summers, his wife Ruth's brothers and sisters kept coming to Banff for work and he happily helped them get jobs at Sulphur Mountain.

All the while he continued to enjoy his favourite pursuit of climbing in the Rockies (which he enjoyed so much that he decided to stay in Canada and settle in Banff). He spent as much time as possible outdoors hiking, backpacking, biking, canoeing, skiing, and of course, climbing all over the Rockies. Well into his 80's, he was still downhill skiing and staying active, walking and riding his bike whenever possible.

In the early 1960's before meeting his wife, he travelled and skied in the States and then spent three months in Mexico. After he was married, he and Ruth travelled, often in their camper van, across Canada including to the Maritimes, down south to the States, spent many winters in Hawaii, went to Alaska, BC wine country, as well as the BC coast, including many trips to Vancouver Island, which he has biked extensively. Originally, he travelled in his Volkswagen Beetle, a car he loved so much that later on, he bought and completely rebuilt one. He continued to drive it until shortly before his death.

After retiring from Banff Lifts, he was recruited by the Stumboeck

Club to become a ski guide for Germans coming to visit the Rockies.

It was his dream job – he got to ski and was paid to do it. He continued to work for Stumboeck until age 75 when regulations wouldn't allow

him to continue.

The family would like to thank the nurses for their excellent care

during his final week at the Mineral Springs Hospital.

Cremation has taken place.

Donations may be made if desired to the Bow Valley SPCA (in memory of his cat Matrix, who died just weeks before him) or to the Canadian Cancer Society, directed towards bladder cancer research.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.