Erik Moller Poulsen

Erik Moller Poulsen, was a loving, unassuming, thoughtful,caring, genuine man that could not help but to bring joy to those around him. He seemed to be eternally happy and carefree, and he would willingly share that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Erik, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he made people feel at ease and accepted. Erik never judged others and accepted people for who they were. Erik really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

       His parents were Neils and Kristina. Erik was raised in Gassum, Denmark. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. He had two younger brothers, Per and Einar, and two younger sisters, Karen and Ellen. Even as a child, Erik had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly and he was in the Danish Army for a couple of years. Erik also had an adventurous side that led to his emigration to Canada in 1950.

      Erik was gregarious and people loved to be around him. This quality allowed Erik to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Whether it was a story, a joke, or just plain fooling around, Erik was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Erik utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Ove and Holger. Later in life, he became friends with almost everyone he met. Erik loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

       On May 16, 1959 Erik exchanged wedding vows with Irene Patricia Lacharity at Notre Dame Catholic Church of Port Alberni. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Erik was blessed with four sons: Brian, Dean, Einar and Kurt. He was also blessed with eight grandchildren, Jayme, Zoey, Cale, Kole, Drake, Kyana, Brayden and Addison. Erik had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Erik's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Erik had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      At work, as in life, Erik was a real “people person” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Erik's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Erik as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was as a Faller. He was employed for almost 40 years with MacMillan Bloedel. He had a safety record for which he received several awards.

 Erik enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were gardening, camping, playing games and spending time with family. Erik was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

           Naturally outgoing and generous, Erik was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. This included helping neighbours, friends, family with anything and everything at anytime - he didn't need to be asked!

       He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. Favorite vacations included Denmark, Europe, Hawaii, Reno, and camping trips on Vancouver Island.

      Erik believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1989, Erik took it in stride as a new opportunity to enjoy life and to spend more time with family. . In retirement, he found new pleasure in gardening, camping and puttering. Even in retirement, Erik continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

      Erik passed away on May 13, 2010 at Nanaimo Regional Hospital. Erik caught pneumonia and died from lung failure. He is survived by his wife Irene; children, Brian (Meika), Dean (Colleen), Einar(Tia) and Kurt (Sharon) ; his grandchildren Jayme, Zoey, Cale, Drake, Kole, Kyana, Brayden and Addison; his brothers Per and Einar, his sisters Karen and Ellen. Services were held at Chapel of Memories, Port Alberni. Erik was cremated and his ashes will be laid to rest at Memorial Gardens.

      Erik brought joy and peace to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Erik Moller Poulsen lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with love and a smile.

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Poulsen, Erik passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital at the age of 82 years.

Predeceased by his parents, Niels and Kristine; Erik is survived by his loving wife, Irene; children, Brian (Meika), Dean (Colleen), Einar (Tia), Kurt (Sharon); grandchildren, Cale, Zoey, Drake, Brayden, Addison, Jayme, Kole, and Kyana; siblings, Karen (Richard), Per (Ulla), Ellen and Einar (Susan), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Arriving in Canada in 1950, Erik made his way West, arriving in the Alberni Valley in 1952 where he met and married Irene in 1959. They raised their family in the Valley while Erik worked nearly 40 years as a Faller. Erik enjoyed "puttering" in his yard, gardening and camping. Later he would share his love of camping with his grandchildren.

A viewing will be held 7:00pm - 8:00 pm, Thursday, May 20, 2010 at the Chapel of Memories Funeral Home, 4005 - 6th Ave. A Funeral Service will take place at 11:00am, Friday, May 21, 2010 from the Chapel of Memories. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.chapelofmemories.ca

In lieu of flowers, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Erik's memory to the BC Lung Association, 2675 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC., V6H 2K2