Larry Ronald Pempeit

Larry was born on October 1, 1945, in Edmonton, Alberta, at the Edmonton General Hospital. Larry passed away on April 14, 2025.

Larry leaves behind his only child, son, Ronald DEAN (Tanya); three grandchildren: Courtney (Steven), Cordell (Loni) and Brennen; three great-grandchildren: Eliza, Ginny and Gabriel; nephew Darryl and his daughter Olivia; Gerry’s daughter Sammi; first wife and lifelong friend Therese; long-time caregiver and friend Genita and her family and lastly, but not least, the friends from the Red Brick school in Edson and the friends who touched his heart as he has touched theirs.

Larry joins his parents, Daisy and Bill, his stepfather, Leo, his sisters Carol, Irene, Judy, and his nephew Gerry in heaven.

Larry spent his childhood in Morinville, Legal, Larkspur, Dapp, but then he moved with his mother and sister Carol to Edson, Alberta. Larry was finally with kindred spirits. He would meet up with a group of ragtag teens, the Red Brick School Crew, and become lifelong friends. Larry was blessed to have spent his last moments on earth with Merle, his best friend since Grade nine.

In August of 1966, while newly wed to wife, Therese and with their four-month-old son Dean were at the farm, Larry went for a ride in a buddy’s convertible. 15 minutes later. Larry and his family's world would drastically change. Larry was a passenger in a single-vehicle accident. This accident left Larry a quadriplegic with a C4 fracture. Larry was a pipefitter/steamfitter before this event. Larry could have been a victim, laid around, and accepted the living standards of that time, but instead he took a very different road. Larry said, “Heck No! How can we allow this!? There was less than nothing for any person with a disability in the 1960s; this is not quality of life. There is no quit in Larry. He went to the U of A to pursue a career where he can excel from the confines of a wheelchair. Like most university students in the ‘60s, he became an activist and was hungry for change. Larry began to protest and bring awareness to the inequality of the disabled. Larry pushed for change and with the help of his friends, family and Percy Wickman. Change started. Wheelchair access in public buildings, accessible washrooms, Para-ramps on street corners. Not to mention all the newspaper articles his son would use for show and share.

Larry was a pipefitter/steamfitter when he was an able-bodied man. After going to university, his professional career started out with a newspaper he started named the Spokesman. The first of its kind, a paper that dealt with issues facing the disabled. This was networking in its infancy. Later, Larry would become a counselor helping those with new injuries adapt to life as a para/quadriplegic for the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Larry would eventually become their Director. After “retiring,” Larry got busier as a consultant, developing barrier-free floor plans with the disabled in mind.

Larry was not content to live in a group home or an extended care facility. Larry and other friends with disabilities began to work towards a model where the disabled can live as independently as possible. Starting as renters in an apartment building with a central staff to assist with daily needs. This was successful but they believed there should be more. They started the Abby Road Housing Co-op, an apartment building starting from the ground up with new construction, with accessibility being designed into the build, and also offered affordable housing. Still not content. Larry dreamed of home ownership. Securing an empty lot (Gainers Meat Processing Plant) just off Whyte Ave. Larry teamed up with Christenson Developments, creating barrier-free units at a decent price point to create a mixed community of able-bodied and disabled people. Using the model created for Abby Road, home ownership was achieved. Creek Side was developed and became a showpiece for the rest of the world.

Larry was asked by several medical practitioners if they could write a medical paper on him. To date, no one has ever survived this long with a C4 break—59 years!

Rest in peace, Dad.

The Pempeit family would like to thank the support staff at Creek Side, Abby Road, Bader Towers, Grandview, McQueen Group Home for all the care that allowed Larry to live life to the fullest.

Celebration of Life
2:00PM Thursday, June 12, 2025
Bison Lodge (formerly the Pioneer Cabin)
9430 Scona Rd NW, Edmonton, Alberta

Memorial Donations
Alberta Abilities Lodges
Spinal Cord Injury of Alberta (formerly Canadian Paraplegic Association)