JOHN WESTNEDGE
July 16, 1942 - March 16, 2015
It is with the most sorrowful regret the family announces the passing of their beloved husband, father, grampa, mentor and friend. John was born in St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, on July 16, 1942. This date started the extraordinary adventures of his life.
He is survived by his loving wife and incredible companion of 10 years, Barbara Dunagan; his children: Glen (Vicki), Darren (Kiri), Nicky (Wayne), Sarah (Don), Jeff (Cindy), Jen (Orin) and Kara; his step children Steve (Diane) and Leslie (Kevin); his beloved grandchildren: Taylor, Kyle, Cassie, Travis, Caelan, Aaltje, Malachi, Lauren, Anthony, Paige, Georgia, and Levi, as well as step grandchildren Marissa and Alison; his brothers Al (Tiki), Lorne (Dorothy) and sister Mary (Phil); many nieces and nephews; and the extended Charlebois family, of which he was a part of since 1969.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Valerie, of 33 years, his father, Frederick Outram Jr., his mother Winifred, step mother Ada, sister-in-law Nadene, mother and father-in-law Dorothe and Bertram Charlebois, brother-in laws Michael and Richard Charlebois, step-grandson Boh, and extraordinary aunt Susie Bond.
John held many jobs ranging from: a Vancouver taxi cab driver (he wouldn’t recommend this profession!), an exciting career with the BC Forest Service, and the owner/operator of the successful oil supply expediting business, Corex, in Edmonton, Alberta from 1971 to 1983. His love for Qualicum Beach — his childhood vacation spot — eventually led him to sell his expediting business and move his family of eight to Vancouver Island. With many different jobs interspersed, and one more baby added to the family, he pursued a career as salesman for Haylock Bros. Paving. Eventually, he changed paths to a highly regarded and much respected career in real estate. He spent 23 happy years with Royal LePage, Parksville-Qualicum Beach.
Reluctantly, John retired from real estate in 2008 and embarked on new adventures of travel, beach combing, and driftwood furniture building with Barbara by his side. They made many wonderful friends during their winters in Pismo Beach, California and summers on Quadra Island.
John excelled in many things. He loved beating his sons on the golf course. He was an avid tennis player, a natural historian and storyteller, a very adventurous boater, a master carpenter, an excellent ballplayer, a dynamic jive dancer, and above all, a family man.
He held his family and children in the highest regard and to his last day, they were his top priority. His dedication to coaching his children’s baseball teams and volunteering for the kids’ field trips was a highlight of his child-rearing years. He devoted the same love and commitment to his grandchildren, while cheering them on at sporting events, teaching them to build, or playing games. John was blessed with two great loves in his life, Valerie and Barbara, for which the family is eternally grateful. He taught us all what it meant to be loved.
To John, any wrong turn, mishap, blunder, ill fortune, or mistake was just another “adventure” in life, to learn from, enjoy… and sometimes repeat! His boating adventures were legendary; we are sometimes surprised we all survived! Although swimming to another island to get matches and sleeping around a fire on the beach seemed like a disaster at the time, he viewed all of these as just
“Another Adventure in Life”.
Cheers to John, our father and husband, to more adventures in all of our lives, and to embrace even the most ill advised outings as “Adventures”.
He will be dearly missed in many hearts and thought of often. If John ever touched your life, the family welcomes you to join them in celebrating his life, a man amongst men, and quite a catch.
A Father’s Faith, a Guiding Hand,
A Master Craftsman Driftwood Plan.
An Ocean Shore, a Shifting Sand,
A Wave that Comes to Take his Hand.
These Words Alone, They Won’t Replace,
A Grampa’s Laugh and Smiling Face.
˜ Jeff Westnedge ˜
The family would like to thank Dr. Fletcher, all the home care nurses, and the staff at the Qualicum Medicine Shoppe who all made John’s last days as comfortable as possible, as well as friends and family for all their support during this difficult time.
A Funeral Mass will be held at the Catholic Church of the Ascension,
on Saturday, March 28th at 887 Wembley Road at 2 o’clock pm.
Reception and celebration of John’s life to directly follow at
Thalassa Restaurant, Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course.
In lieu of flowers, please consider honouring John’s memory by making a donation in his name to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation at 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., V5Z 4HZ.
To send a condolence to the family please visit
www.yatesfuneral.ca
YATES FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATORIUM
(250-248-5859) in care of arrangements.