John passed away peacefully at his home in SookeonSeptember102018. Born in Victoria on November 01 1943, he was predeceased by his parents and sister Jo Andrews.
He grew up in Victoria and then Sooke where he lived until his death. He trained as a machinist at Burrard Yarrows Corp. and worked at his trade until his retirement. His professional training and perfectionist nature meant everything he did was with precision and detail. His tools and workshops were meticulously kept and amazing to all.
John was a West Coaster to the core, a true outdoors man, and he lived it all; fishing, boating, boat-building, logging, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, snow-shoeing, hiking, trail-building and of course gardening. John could grow anything, and most of his food was harvested from his garden.
John was a founding member of the Society for the Protection of Ayum Creek prior to it becoming a CRD Park, and was active as a Stream keeper for the creek as well as extensively mapping it. He went on to hike and work on trial building and mapping with JDF Community Trails Society.
He was a kind and generous man with a great big heart. He loved all animals and they were drawn to him. He took in two old rascal tom cats, first Spike and then Scruffy, and cared for each of them throughout their old age. There was always a bowl of water on his porch for whatever animals might come by and want a drink.
John had so many friends. Meeting with his Monday morning coffee buddies was a priority as was hiking with his Tuesday/Saturday hiking group "The Fanatics". He was never happier than when he was out "bushwhacking", and after every hike would, of course, precisely map out the GPS coordinates and organize the pictures he'd taken.
He is missed and remembered by his large extended family of friends. Establishment of a Memorial Bench situated in a local park of significance to him is planned. Donations for a bench are welcome and can be arranged by contacting his executor Donald Linge at: dlinge@leaguelaw.com.