Alfred Johann Karl Penz

Alfred Johann Karl Penz passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025, in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, at the age of 95.

Born on August 19, 1929, in Vienna, Austria, Alfred’s early life was shaped by the Second World War. At the age of 15, he was conscripted as a soldier — an experience he rarely spoke of but elements of which he later documented in 2021 when he was 91, in a written memoir entitled “A Boys War.”

Fluent in seven languages, Alfred travelled throughout Europe following the war, settling for a time in Sweden where he dabbled in movies and lived with Laplanders. He later made his way to Norway where he got a job as seaman. While during one rough transatlantic crossing, Alfred decided that he no longer wanted to be a sea man and he would like to live for a while in North America. He opened an Atlas and chose destinations of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan or Walla Walla, Washington as places to settle. His US visa did not come through but his Canadian visa did, so he left the Norwegian shipping company in 1956 and travelled by train to Saskatoon Saskatchewan - in the dead of winter. He lasted there a few weeks before moving on to Edmonton where he worked as Limousine driver for a few months and then having enough of the cold, left Edmonton and worked as a cook on CP Rail before securing a job as a paper tester in Ocean Falls.

It is in Oceans Fall where he met Sonya Marshall, his future wife. On July 1, 1961, Alfred married Sonya in Vancouver, settled in Vancouver, resumed his work as a cook on CP Rail while he attended the Emily Carr School of Art to become a graphic artist. He worked as a graphic artist for BCTV before starting his own graphic design company in 1968. He led a long and rewarding career as a graphic artist, where his creative eye, grasp of languages and technical precision found their full expression.

Alfred was married for 39 years to Sonya until her passing in 2000. He is survived by his three children and their spouses: Susanna Reardon and spouse Karl, Stefanie Kazakoff and spouse Paul, and Robert Penz; grandchildren and their spouses: Peter Kazakoff and spouse Rebecca, Danica Reardon and spouse Ljubo, Alex Kazakoff and spouse Siobhan, Melanie Reardon, Ava Penz, and Macy Penz; and one great-granddaughter, Olivia Kazakoff. He was deeply proud of his family.

He continued working as a graphic designer until his early 80’s. During this time, he resumed his passion for travel and adventure, often embarking on exotic international destinations with his sister, Erni. A lifelong traveler, Alfred valued experiencing new places and learning from the world around him. In total, Alfred visited 58 different countries over the course of his life. He enjoyed sharing stories from his early years in Canada, his worldly travels, and his work — always with insight and dry wit.

Alfred lived with deep conviction, resilience, curiosity and an insatiable drive for adventure. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Alfred’s Life will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Boal Chapel and Memorial Gardens, 1505 Lillooet Road, North Vancouver, where friends and family are invited to gather in remembrance. In accordance with the family’s wishes, no flowers or donations please.