BRANDSTATTER, Helge Karl brandstatter

It is with profound sadness and yet joy for a life well lived that we say goodbye to Helge Karl Brandstatter. Helge passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and loved ones on October 14, 2025, mere months from his 90th birthday. Helge leaves behind a great legacy as a wonderful and valued husband, father, grandfather (papa), friend and a pioneer in the Kelowna community.

Helge was predeceased by his beloved wife, Inge; his mother, Ida; his father, Albert; his twin brothe,r Gerulf; and his grandson Jared. He is survived by his three children, Heike (Coreen), Heimo (Corinne), and Elke (Suzanne); grandchildren Kyle (Erica), and Kiara; his great-grandchildren, Poppy and Henry; his sister, Elke (Arti); and his companion Josephine.

Helge lived life big and proud, filled with adventure and determination. Born February 13, 1936 in Stainach, Steiermark Austria, he went on to explore the world, eventually settling in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Helge had a profound love for his family, mountains, nature, and his career as a world-class Executive Chef. Helge spent his youth amidst the Austrian alps. A true, courageous adventurer, his favourite days were filled with hikes or bicycle trips to neighbouring villages. With a quart of milk and a fresh loaf of bread he would set out to explore new valleys, mountains, rivers and lakes. At the age of twelve, one of his most memorable experiences was a two-night solo trip. Travelling by train to a neighbouring village, he hiked three hours to the top of the TauplitzAlm and onward to the Steirer See. Here, on an isolated island in the Steirer See, he camped alone. Another testament of his love for mountain adventure occurred at the age of twenty, in the Swiss alps. Here he embarked on an all-day, all-night bike journey through the mountain passes of the alps to catch a glimpse of the sun rising over the magnificent Matterhorn. After a quick swim in the creek and a bite to eat, he made the same journey back in time to start his sleep-deprived 9:00 am work shift the next day.

His illustrious career began in 1952, when he began a 3-year cooking apprenticeship in Graz (Hotel Steirerhof), concurrently with the hospitality program at HotelFachschule in Bad-Gleichenberg. From 1955 to 1960, upon completion of his schooling and his cooking apprenticeship in Graz, Helge went on to work in culinary positions such as Chef Garde Manger and Chef Saucier at some of the best hotels in the world. He worked at Hotel Ehrenbach-Hoehe in Kitzbühel, Austria; Hotel Europa in Bad-Gastein, Austria; Hotel Palace Beau-Rivage in Lausanne, Switzerland; Palace Hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland and the Ritz Hotel in Paris, France. From there he fulfilled his dream of working in America as Executive Chef at Mammoth Hotel in the Sierra Mountains. Returning once again to Europe he worked at Hotel Europa in Heidelberg, Germany and Hotel Schweizerhof, Luzern, Switzerland. He ended the European leg of his career at Hotel Osterreichisher-Hoff in Salzburg, Austria.

In 1960, his marriage to Ingeborg Peinsolt (Brandstatter) in Luzern, Switzerland, whom he first met in 1955 at HotelFachschule, led to some monumental changes in his life. Their courtship was spent exploring the countrysides of Austria and Switzerland on their moped, affectionately named Maxl. One night they went to the cinema and saw a movie filled with magnificent images of Canada and the Rocky Mountains and knew that was where their future lay. By late 1961 Helge, Inge, and their newborn daughter had moved to Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia. From Harrison Hot Springs they enjoyed a brief stint in Vancouver and then moved on to Kelowna, British Columbia. It was in Kelowna, now late 1962, that Helge and Inge had arrived in the beautiful valley where they would settle permanently, raise their family with the addition of two more children, and Helge would fulfill his dream position at the Capri Hotel.

Helge worked as Executive Chef at the Capri Hotel from 1962 until 1995. Helge brought his European culinary expertise to Kelowna and played an instrumental role in the early days of the Okanagan culinary and wine renaissance. For decades, Kelowna patrons enjoyed his classic European cuisine. For many years, Helge appeared frequently on the Betty Pavle TV show. There, Helge would dazzle the audience with his cooking demonstrations, sharing recipes and cooking tips. Betty would prompt him to share stories from his European culinary adventures, his athletic achievements, and his family, which Helge was always happy to oblige with humour.

Helge lived Okanagan life to its fullest. For 56 years, he cherished summer family gatherings at his beloved Okanagan lakeside cottage. He was a powerful athlete who enjoyed the local ski scene – downhill, cross-country, and water. A highlight in 1973 was when Helge won the non-stop Penticton/Vernon/Penticton Okanagan water ski competition, completing the course in 4 hours. For decades, he jogged up Knox mountain making loops around the mountain top lake so many times that Toby, the family dog, could not keep up and would lay waiting for the return stretch back down the mountain. Exploring all that BC had to offer, Helge’s beloved hiking excursions continued late into his life. Highlights included the 14-day Bowren Lake loop, Cape Scott, and Mount Assiniboine. His lifelong love of adventure and exploration complete with memorable trips to Romania, Russia, Long Beach (Vancouver Island), New Zealand, Bahamas, the Canadian and US Rockies, and many more – too numerous to list.

Helge will be remembered as a handsome mountain of a man, for his humour, his love of the outdoors and adventure, his culinary contributions and most importantly as a beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather and Friend.

Helge, Papa, you live on in our hearts and will never be forgotten ♥️ to ♥️

Look for a park bench this spring on Knox Mountain celebrating Helge and Inge’s legacy.

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