December 29, 2020
It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of John Busink of Parksville, BC on December, 29, 2020, at the age of 82.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 25 years, Anne, his children, Peter (Sanaz), Jennifer (Peter) and Paul, step daughters Linda and Karen and families. He is also survived by his six siblings, Nella, Joyce (Herman), Peter (Evelyn), Bert (Coby), Aletta (Pete) and Evert (Esther.)
John was born in Oisterwijk Holland to Piet and Johanna Busink. During his early childhood John's family lived through the occupation of Holland. He trained to be a bricklayer and a carpenter in Holland while still in his teens.
After immigrating to Canada with his family when he was 18, he went to night school to get his high-school diploma, then to UBC to become a teacher. He and then wife Ria spent a year in France, studying French and then moved to Oliver BC. Here they raised their three children while John taught French and geography in Oliver and Osoyoos.
John was an avid hiker, golfer, curler and skier. He participated in community theater and was in many plays to his great enjoyment. Later John decided to go into construction and he built many homes in Oliver. He was active in Rotary and worked on many of the projects in Oliver, West Bank, and Parksville including sponsoring an exchange student with Anne.
He and Anne married in 1995 and moved first to Westbank, where he continued to build homes, then to Parksville. In Parkville John continued to enjoy socializing with friends, sports, and gardening. For most of 20 years his backyard garden was a miniature Minter's. He was known around the neighborhoods as "that cheerful Dutchman. Though we are saddened to lose John, we feel he is now at peace after a long battle with dementia. We will be holding a memorial for John when this pandemic allows us to gather to celebrate John's life. We miss him.