A former Red Deer man killed in a B.C. plane crash had a zest for life, a passion for auto racing and bought a prized BMW only days before his fatal flight, said a close friend.

Waldemar Klemens, 24, and four co-workers from construction firm Peter Kiewit Sons Co. were killed, along with the pilot and a mechanic, Sunday morning when their Grumman Goose went down enroute to a hydroelectric work site in Toba Valley, near Powell River, B.C.

Robert Mason met Klemens when they both worked at the Capri Hotel and Convention Centre about eight years ago.

“We spent almost every day together for two summers and we were roommates at SAIT,” said Mason, 28, who now lives in Victoria, B.C.

“He was one of those infectious people with more passion for life than anyone I’ve ever met,” Mason said Wednesday.

“I’ve never known him to have a bad day in his life. He was always full of life.”

The Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the crash of the Second World War-era float plane. The aircraft crashed at high speed into a wooded area and then burst into flames.

A lone survivor, Tom Wilson, 36, of Fort Saskatchewan, walked several kilometres downhill and through thick forest before reaching a beach, where he was spotted by rescuers. He is recovering from burns in a Vancouver hospital.

Klemens, who lived in the Vancouver area, immigrated to Canada from Germany with his parents and a younger brother about 10 years ago. He graduated from Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School in Red Deer and studied mechanical engineering at SAIT and Lakehead University, in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Mason and Klemens shared an enthusiasm for auto racing, especially Formula 1.

“He’s a big petrol head. He fueled my passion for automobiles.”

Mason said the two would hit the go-kart tracks and “argue about Formula 1 constantly.”

He last saw his friend the day before the flight when Klemens proudly showed off his new car.

“He was driving and he said the smile on his face would be there permanently.”

The pair had already been making plans to head to Seattle in a couple of weeks to drive the street racing circuit depicted in the Gran Turismo video game.

“We were planning on lots of trips.”

Mason said his pal had a serious girlfriend and there was talk of marriage. “I’m sure he would have eventually.”

Klemens was a groomsman at Mason’s wedding, which came about largely because of his friend.

“He’s the reason I’m with my wife today. He introduced us.”

Klemens’s parents live in Red Deer and son Thomas is also here. His father is a mechanic with Gord Scott Nissan.

Mason described a warm family. “His family always welcomed me in their door.”

A man who answered the phone at their house declined to comment. “It’s probably not the right time,” he said quietly.

Robert’s father, Ron Mason, said there was much to admire about Klemens.

“He came over, learned English, went through engineering, and did well.

“He was a fine, upstanding boy. He had everything going for him,” said Mason, who is business manager at Notre Dame High School.

Contact Paul Cowley at pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com