June 3, 1935 - September 6, 2024
In loving memory ~
John passed away peacefully on September 6, 2024 at the age of 89 surrounded by his family. He was born in Comox on June 3, 1935 as the 4th of 5 children of immigrant parents from Yugoslavia. He met his wife, Verona, in Port Alberni and they enjoyed 63 years of marriage, 49 of those years in the house they built on acreage in Whiskey Creek.
John was a Navy veteran who later worked for 40 years for MacMillan Bloedel Pulp and Paper Mill. He then enjoyed over 30 years of retirement becoming heavily involved in the community serving as the volunteer fire chief of Coombs for many years, the editor of the Fish and Game Club newsletter and ski patrol for Mount Arrowsmith. John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, boating, camping, skiing and working outside on his property.
John was predeceased by the love of his life, Verona, in 2021. He is survived by his son Marty (Leanne) and his daughter Julie (Robert), his grandchildren Tony (Amandah), Amanda (Tim), Kate, Rachel, Luke, Ben and his great-granddaughters, Audrey and Annika. Our family would like to thank the amazing nurses in the palliative care unit at NRGH for the excellent and compassionate care they took with Dad in his last days as well as his home care support and advocates at VIHA who were so helpful in the past few months.