Dietrich Werner Joachim Schultz

Dietrich Schultz, of Brentwood Bay, BC, closed out his last adventure on August 8, 2026. Despite living with cancer with unceasing positivity for 26 years, his illness progressed rapidly over the past 3 months. He spent his last couple weeks lovingly surrounded daily by close family and friends at the SPH Palliative Care Unit.

Dietrich was defined by his curiousity about the world, interest (his enduring claim he just knew a little about a lot) and empathy, artistry, humour, appreciation of nature and fascination with animals, and his deep and generous love of family. Born in Criewen, East Germany in wartime 1943, Dietrich’s life did not start with peace and ease but he learned to approach life with optimism and resilience, not expecting but always appreciating. Dietrich moved to Smithers, BC, in 1957 with his father to join his three older sisters. He started high school without knowing a word of English and formed enduring friendships – a testament to his intrepid nature. Dietrich married his late wife, Conroy, whom he met while driving a scooter around Europe in 1965. Together they embarked on many adventures, including teaching at a rural one room school house, travelling Central and South America with lifelong friends, operating the General Store on Pender Island, raising their family on a working farm, and several entrepreneurial endeavors. He also worked for Canada Post, which supported his love of building community, and Greenhawk Vancouver Island, a position that allowed him to keep one foot out of retirement. Dietrich created joy in simple pleasures: a good book, art in its many forms, fine wine and food, picnics, road trips, music, walks on the beach, learning languages, swimming in the ocean, making friends, and being with the people he loved. He was inspired by creating art (painting) and he loved to travel. He spent two months every winter in Melaque, Mexico where he also built a beautiful community of friends.

Dietrich will be forever missed by his daughters Glynis Schultz (Owen) and Lara Schultz (Paul), nephews and nieces, extended family, and cherished friends. While here our hearts are a bit broken, we know he will always be with us… on the beaches, the trails, the cafes, the dinner tables, the family and friend gatherings that he treasured so much. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with him in it.

A public celebration of life will be held on Sept 19, 2026 from 2 – 5pm at the Capital City Yacht Club in North Saanich.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Palliative Care Unit where Dietrich received the upmost empathic and compassionate care.

Or to one of the following charities that were close to Dietrich’s heart:

Canadian Wildlife Federation

Pacific Opera Victoria

Operation Smile Canada