The patriarch of the company many simply call Bend All, Horst Udo Petersen, passed away on September 7, 2021 at the age of 77. Udo had a profound impact on all he met, and he encountered many.
Udo was the fourth son born of humble surroundings in 1944 Hamburg Germany (raised in Sorup). He trained and worked as a “shipbuilder” and in 1967 Udo and his wife Ingrid left Germany on a ship bound for Canada, as newlyweds. Although he was gone physically – his mother and homeland never left him.
In 1976 he co-founded Bend All Tools & Machines in New Dundee, Ontario as a 3 person operation. After excelling at building tooling which was focused on the automotive parts industry in Canada, USA and Germany, the next step was to manufacture automotive parts in house. With rapid growth and expansion, Bend All Automative was born, eventually employing a team of 1200+. Bend All went on to win six worldwide General Motors Supplier of the Year awards, under Udo’s Ownership.
The holder of several patents, Udo had an innate ability to see and feel the way metal forms and to use that vision to invent innovative processes and products. All the while team culture thrived. Udo reminded us that work can and should be fun. Although Udo left the company some time ago, spiritually he remains.
Udo was so much more than an inventive entrepreneur. His adventurous spirit and zest for life was contagious. He faced challenges with gusto. Some highlights are listed below; the list could go on:
·The founder of the award-winning Ridge at Manitou 18-hole golf course in McKellar, Ontario
·An accomplished telemark skier
·A small aircraft pilot
·A long-haul cyclist who traversed Canada and the USA, up, down and across
·An acclaimed worldwide traveler, and along that vein, an extraordinary road-trip packer who could seemingly make any amount of luggage fit into any vehicle!
Most importantly Udo was a fun loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Togetherness was at the heart of everything he did. Adventures were the best when shared.
A giant of a man, larger than life in so many ways, Udo’s was a life that ended too soon but was very well lived. It is highly doubtful that we will come across another like him.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/cambridge-on/horst-petersen-10341218
