Does anybody out here know of my Dad, Gil Schmunk?

[GilSchmunksdaughter]

My Dad passed away a few years ago now, Aug 2017, and I was hoping to connect with anybody that knew him throughout his career. I miss him so much and just wanted to make a connection with anyone that knew him.

I can be reached at [email protected] if you have any photos or information on any articles or even if you could just send me a note to tell me how you knew my dad it would mean the world to me. I miss him so much. Thank you for any memories or information about him that you can share with me as this is all I have left of him as my mother and brother have destroyed every physical memory of him and withheld every single thing he wrote in his will that he wanted me to have, as well as all the items from me that I know he cherished and had on display in his offices. I spent hours and hours in his home office just sitting on the floor drawing buildings on ledger paper because that was the only paper we had in the house. I have such incredible memories of heading to the Delta, BC plant and the Cypress Equipment offices and being allowed to climb up into the cabs of the machines being worked on at that time. I think I even have permanent indentations in my knees from the raised grips on each step to climb up on that equipment. I remember every time he would come back from the heavy duty equipment trade shows the little promotional toys he would bring back for me and my little brother. I kept the green and white Ingersol Rand toy generator for as long as I can remember. I truly cherish those memories for me to be with Dad, and any moment I could be by his side.

I used to just enjoy staring intently at all the mini replicas of the Champion grader, and all of the other mini replicas of earth moving and logging equipment he had on display in his home office. Unfortunately everyone of these cherished items in my Dad's office were destroyed by my mother and or taken by my brother. My mom suffered for many years with her own internal psychological battles and unfortunately in her confusion and lack of empathy she cut me off of ever being able to have even one single item from the treasures my dad kept in his home office. Now they are long gone as she moved on. Her and my only sibling, Brad, decided that because I made a life for myself in the US that I was no longer part of their family. I must say that when I lost my dad to cancer I had no idea that I would have been loosing my entire family as well. Life has its challenges and as my dad always taught me, if things get tough just shake the dirt off your shoes and focus on pressing on, cause every struggle will only makes you stronger and wiser.

My Dad loved being able to have had the opportunities he did to work with all of you in whatever capacity that took place. And I know this because he told me that it is the people that matter in your life. He always told mtojow important it is to respect and honor your commitments and to take care of your employees and colleagues because they are the heart of your business. Dad taught me the meaning of commitment and integrity as he lived it out everyday. He loved the opportunities he was given to learn so much from all of you. Thank you for being a part of my father's world. And thank you in advance for anything you might possibly be able to share with me too.

Sincerely,

Teri-Lee Schmunk

 

[Oxbow]

I sure don't but I wish you luck in finding a connection.

 

[crane operator]

I wish you the best, and I'm sorry for your family issues. Maybe you could list all the places he worked, and the years he worked there. It may help jog someones memory, or a "I know someone who worked there"....

 

[GilSchmunksdaughter]

I loved you idea Oxbow...

Dad was with Skagit in Sedro Woolley, WA as an accountant in 1971 to 74ish and then he was brought on at Cypress Equipment Co, Ltd on Lougheed Hwy in Burnaby, BC, and became the youngest President ever in the Heavy Duty Machinery industry.

They expanded out to River Road in Delta, BC. And today Stu Wheeler is still working out at that facility.

My Dad and Sam Madill put something together between Cypress Equipment and Madill Manufacturing in the 80s.

Dad moved over to Nanaimo, BC and then eventually merged together with Nicholson Manufacturing, in Sydney, BC.

Dad fully retired from the CEO/ Presidency position with Nicholson Manufacturing in 2013/14 once his cancer had spread throughout his body.

My dad, Gil Schmunk, passed away after a 15 year hard fought battle with cancer. The loss in my world was enormous, but the fact that my mother and brother Bradley have withheld everything my father clearly wrote in his will for me to receive immediately following his death. I raised my sons all alone after their father decided he no longer wanted to be a husband or a father. The boys were 2 and 4 years of age. The youngest son struggled as he was diagnosed as non-verbal Autistic. I worked multiple jobs simultaneously while raising them. My youngest was able to graduate high school something his specialists said would never happen. This ceremony took place two months before my dad's life ended.

My mother and brother have also now even taken the home my father stated in his will was to be Teri-Lee's Home immediately following his passing. My mother and brother 10 months ago forced me out of my home of 26 years to move into my car. They left me homeless and forced me to close my company, my only income source in order to keep me from being able to contest the handling of my father's will and estate.

Today I am almost 60 years of age and homeless, without the home that was to be used as my only investment for retirement. Yes, I am the only daughter and first born child of Gilbert Charles Schmunk and Susan Marie Schmunk. And my younger brother, and only sibling Bradley John Schmunk has played out the most vile scheme to take everything my father fully intended on me, a clear beneficiary from ever receiving, and when my brother is not even listed as a beneficiary of our fathers estate.

Because I do not live in Canada I do not qualify for legal aid to complete this litigation process that I started pro se Jan 5, 2024.


I just posted this to find out more about my father that I truly believe loved me very much, even though my brother tried to tell me last year that he never loved me.

Here is a photo of my dad and I on a very special occassion. All I can say is that my dad would truly be so frustrated and angered by all that my mother and brother did to me based on their absolute delusions and manufactured lies in order to gaslight me and manipulate every mutual contact into thinking they were the victims.


I honestly dont know what to do any longer and just thought I would let yhose from my father's world know that their is one good member from his family out here still....even if she is just struggling to stay afloat.

 

[Oxbow]

It was Crane Operator that made the suggestions, and I'm glad that you shared some more information.

I feel horrible for you and what you are going through with your family. I guess that I have been lucky and have not had any issues with the passing of family members.

I hope some folks that knew your father find this thread.

 

[Welder Dave]

That is very sad. I wonder if you could talk to legal aid or the lawyers association in BC to get some guidance if you were cut out of your father's will unlawfully. Maybe there is a group that would help with funding or even a lawyer who might work for you on a contingency basis. Talking to former employers like Nicholson, they may help you. Other thought is start a go fund me page. It sounds horrible the way you have been treated by your mother and brother. You're entitled to what your dad left you in his will. His spirit is still with you.

 

[GilSchmunksdaughter]

That is very sad. I wonder if you could talk to legal aid or the lawyers association in BC to get some guidance if you were cut out of your father's will unlawfully. Maybe there is a group that would help with funding or even a lawyer who might work for you on a contingency basis. Talking to former employers like Nicholson, they may help you. Other thought is start a go fund me page. It sounds horrible the way you have been treated by your mother and brother. You're entitled to what your dad left you in his will. His spirit is still with you.

Thank you Dave,
You have no idea how amazing it feels to no longer feel all alone in all of this... Just hearing from people from my dad's world in the Heavy Duty Machinery world is making me tear up right now. I know my dad is looking down on me. He and I were very much alike and just put our heads down and got the jobs done without giving up. Family meant everything to my dad and to me and I have truly never felt so all alone. Dad was always a protective father that taught me a strong and focused work ethic and never would have allowed my little brother get away with using elder abuse on him and now my mother that I was told once the borders opened Sept 30, 2022, that I am not allowed to even visit her and can only commujicate eith her via email.


I just wanted to say thank you for reaching out to me.... I know my dad would be grateful too.

 

[Tones]

A bloke who may be able to help you with your quest regularly puts stuff on the Forestry Equipment section here. Look for Contract Logger. Apparently he's been around the Forestry game since Adam was a cowboy. Good luck Teri
Thread 'S. Madill, Blacksmith, Founded in 1911 in Nanaimo BC' https://www.heavyequipmentforums.co...acksmith-founded-in-1911-in-nanaimo-bc.16539/

 

[GilSchmunksdaughter]

A bloke who may be able to help you with your quest regularly puts stuff on the Forestry Equipment section here. Look for Contract Logger. Apparently he's been around the Forestry game since Adam was a cowboy. Good luck Teri
Thread 'S. Madill, Blacksmith, Founded in 1911 in Nanaimo BC' https://www.heavyequipmentforums.co...acksmith-founded-in-1911-in-nanaimo-bc.16539/

Tones,

Thank you for your help. I am just trying to figure out how to add those new "thread keywords" to add to the searchability here. And from the bottom of my heart....thank you for reaching out today.


I was looking into a gofundme page as one of the fellas noted in this thread, but I honestly don't know how to accomplish something like that, and especially when I am in a small town south of Sedro Wooley, where my dad first started his career in the Heavy machinery business. I find it rather ironic now that I think about that! I was doing work for a gunsmith in WA state which was how I found the lady that so graciously took me in a few weeks ago when I had just asked her if I could park in her secured driveway while sleeping in my car. This is absolutely crazy that my brother allowed his greed to bring it all to this. And he is using my dads estate funds to fight to keep me from being even remotely capable of paying for the legal fees to finish this Litigation process. I am burned out and SO tired now but my Dad would never allow me to quit now. I can hear him saying the words now... "this is making you so much stronger!"


Thank you for contacting me today, I am putting together a visual layout of all that has taken place based on the chronological list of documents and evidence proving both my father's full intentions all along with the greedy, vile intentions of my little brother. I am in no way a lawyer, but I have certainly learned far too much about this entire process in both the US and Canada. I am too old to have to be dealing with this.


Teri

 

[GilSchmunksdaughter]

It was Crane Operator that made the suggestions, and I'm glad that you shared some more information.

I feel horrible for you and what you are going through with your family. I guess that I have been lucky and have not had any issues with the passing of family members.

I hope some folks that knew your father find this thread.

Me too...but Im not even sure how to make something like than even happen. And my apologies you are right it was Crane Operator that made the suggestions... Thank you again though for reaching out in this day of so much technology its amazing just how alone someone can feel when going through life's severe hardships! But then you find a link to a thread that once again gives you hope and you can actually see the light of day through the darkest tunnel of your life. It reminds me of those Othello tunnels just outside of Hope, BC. There are times when I wonder if its the inheritance my dad had set up for me so that I could focus on my kids needs, that is at the light at the very end of this tunnel...

Or...

..is it actually my Dad waiting at the very end of this tunnel holding out his arms to grab me up and tell me I am safe now..

I will press on to get through this somehow, someway, but now know that there are people out there that care about whether I get through this tunnel or not.

Teri-Lee

 

[GilSchmunksdaughter]

That is very sad. I wonder if you could talk to legal aid or the lawyers association in BC to get some guidance if you were cut out of your father's will unlawfully. Maybe there is a group that would help with funding or even a lawyer who might work for you on a contingency basis. Talking to former employers like Nicholson, they may help you. Other thought is start a go fund me page. It sounds horrible the way you have been treated by your mother and brother. You're entitled to what your dad left you in his will. His spirit is still with you.

I spent years now trying to get assistance from legal aid but they repeatedly tel me because I don't reside in BC they cannot help me.

I have been in contact with MANY different BC attorneys but they all require hefty retainers. Even the contingency attorneys require upwards of $25,000. retainer fees to even start the case. They agree that I am a clear beneficiary, and that I have been lied to over and over about what the will actually says, never mind the letters from my dad proving his intentions.

the thing is, I have already done all the work in pulling up all the evidence to take this through litigation.

They just need to draw up the next response to send to their attorney, and put the evidence together to present it to the courts. At least thats what numerous attorneys and their assistants have stated.

I have been told by a couple BC attorneys that what is happening is that the various legal firms are just playing with me and giving me the run around. I don' t understand why ANYONE would do that? What could I have possibly done to them to make them do something like that?

I'm really tired, and its only 10am on Monday morning.

 

[Welder Dave]

You could try something out of the box. Call a local TV station or newspaper and tell them your story. If it goes on the news or is printed, people that can help you will see it. Even writing a short letter to the editor could help. I've seen this happen in the past. Posting on Facebook or X is something else you could do. I'm surprised a lawyer won't at least give you a 1/2 hour consultation. People that knew your dad would likely help. That's why I suggested talking to Nicholson. My sister happens to live 5 minutes from Nicholson. Maybe Nicholson could post something on their website or Facebook talking about your dad and his daughter needs some help to fulfill his wishes. I really think if your story got out people would want to help you. People on this forum would want to help.

 

[GilSchmunksdaughter]

You could try something out of the box. Call a local TV station or newspaper and tell them your story. If it goes on the news or is printed, people that can help you will see it. Even writing a short letter to the editor could help. I've seen this happen in the past. Posting on Facebook or X is something else you could do. I'm surprised a lawyer won't at least give you a 1/2 hour consultation. People that knew your dad would likely help. That's why I suggested talking to Nicholson. My sister happens to live 5 minutes from Nicholson. Maybe Nicholson could post something on their website or Facebook talking about your dad and his daughter needs some help to fulfill his wishes. I really think if your story got out people would want to help you. People on this forum would want to help.

Oh the attorneys offer to assist but they require a whole lot of money for the consultation. They al agree that I am clearly a Beneficiary of my father but they also say that my brother has made an enormous mess that most attorney get squeamish about because it's not a slam dunk right from the start. Thing is I have the documented evidence I just need an attorney willing to take it on without a retainer an on a contingency basis. This seeming totally impossible because I have lived in the US for thirty years now. I am a dual citizen as I was born in Vancouver, BC...my Dad would tell me the story of how he ran out of gas on the way to my delivery at the hospital on Burrard Street whole my folks were living in a tiny little apartment in China Town. My first bed was a drawer in the dresser in their apartment. My dad was still articling for his Chartered Accountants degree from UBC at that time. My dad would tell me that story of trying desperately to get to the hospital for my delivery every year right around my birthday in early July. My dad and I were close and were quite similar as we were the ones that quietly stepped back to fully analyze difficult situations. We both were the ones that always tried to see both sides of the issues at hand and to come up with a plan of action that could allow those involved the chance to feel at the very least be moderately pleased with the outcomes. I miss hearing all the stories my dad would tell me about heading up to northern BC to various logging projects and he would tell me about so many of the harrowing stories these loggers went through...it always kept me at the edge of my seat at the dinner table! I REALLY miss him.

 

[Welder Dave]

If your story got out an attorney may see it and offer some help. You could maybe get a student or someone in law school to help you. If a house was supposed to be left to you, it should have enough value an attorney would consider a contingency fee. Your story is very sad and I think people would offer to help. Someone would probably be able to help you set up a go fund me page. I don't know how but lots of people have done it. Maybe posting on social media asking for help setting up a go fund me page would get noticed and someone would come forward to help you.