March 10, 1908 - Jan. 3, 2004
In the early morning of January 3, 2004 Fred Paulig peacefully passed away, heading down a new road on yet another journey.
Fred was born in Friendenau (Berlin), Germany, March 10, 1908. At the age of 20 he journeyed to Canada by ship landing in Halifax. Traveling across the country on the train he stopped briefly in Calgary to earn money planting crops. As the farmer could not pay him until harvest he headed west to Vancouver.
Here he found work on the docks and later a job in a coastal logging camp cutting firewood for the steam engine that provided power for the operation. As the depression changed everyones luck he found other work including railway work in Ashcroft, woodcutting for mining operations and a time in the Klondike looking for gold.
After returning to Vancouver he again headed north, often by foot. He spent a winter in the Quesnel area cutting wood and then traveled to Fort Saint James. Here he cut firewood for the mercury mine. After mercury was no longer needed for the war he prospected west of Eutsuk Lake near the ancient Water Ways Trail for the Consolidated Mining Company. Later he began cutting ties and lumber.
Eventually he bought land at Francois Lake and built himself a cabin at Lippencott Bay. Here he cut ties and lumber, built boats, began to paint and to write about his experiences in poems and stories.
Later Fred built a home closer to Tatalrose Road and would walk 15 miles for his mail and walk long distances to visit with friends, in all types of weather.
When he was no longer allowed to drive Fred moved into Burns Lake, his first home with electricity. Here he could walk to the stores and to visit friends. Fred was often seen walking the road to Decker Lake and was known to walk to the top of Boer Mountain, from town, when he was 93. He loved to stop in for coffee and a visit. And he loved to go for a ride in the car to look over the beauty of the north that he loved so well.
Left behind are his niece Felicitas Clauss (Erny) in Petershagen, Germany and his great niece Claudia Riemer of Munich, Germany. He will be missed by his many friends and by all those who enjoyed his company and stories. Happy trails Fred, until we meet again.