Obituary
John passed away peacefully on June 22, 2022, surrounded by his loved ones. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, John is survived by his loving wife Lynn, two daughters Sarah and Amy, son-in-law Mike, his three grandsons Gavin, Hayden, and Joshua, and his siblings Rick, Bruce, Kathryn, Elizabeth, and Susan.
Born and raised in West Vancouver, John lived in Vancouver (and briefly in Edmonton where it was just too cold). He worked at Mappin’s as a jeweller and then started Turnbull Coffee Break Services which he sold under pressure but at a profit to Imperial. John moved to Roberts Creek in 1974 and worked for 32 years at Port Mellon, first in mill stores and later on the dock. He was an active member of the union, contributing to many positive changes to benefits for employees and for the environment.
John loved being on the water and for several years he and Lynn explored different places along the Coast aboard the African Queen (and were routinely rescued by the Coast Guard out of Pender Harbour). John was a lifelong photographer with a phenomenal memory, quietly documenting the lives and events of family, friends, and community. He delighted in sharing these photos and memories to their surprise and enjoyment.
Fascinated by local history, John read and learned about coastal and BC communities, routinely visited local archives and museums during his travels around the province. He supported many local organizations through his membership including the Gibsons Public Art Gallery, Iris Griffiths Centre, Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden, and Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives. John enjoyed golf and organized the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Thursday night golf at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club for many years.
John was a gentle, kind, and generous man with a wonderful sense of humour and a genuine interest in others. He loved his family, and he loved his friends, maintaining lifelong friendships. With his active intelligence John enjoyed participating in the broad range of courses offered by Elder College. He loved cribbage, birds, beauty, travelling, books, music, history, researching and learning about the many topics that caught his interest, and monitoring various web cams and marine and air traffic radar websites.
In early 2019 John was diagnosed with ALS which he faced with dignity, courage, patience, and humour. He was grateful for the choice of using Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), which gave him great comfort throughout this awful disease. John was happy to be able to participate in two films, Living with Dying and How we Die: The MAiD Decision, both available on YouTube.
The family is so very grateful to those who have provided invaluable support, care, kindness, fun and friendship to John and our family during this very difficult time. Special thanks to Dr. Carmen Goojha and Dr. Daren Spithoff, to the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society, to Shannon from Nurse Next Door, and to the VCH palliative nursing team. Heartfelt gratitude and love to Tatiana, Marlena, Donna, Laura, Tracey, Skye, and Shelley. You are so very much appreciated.
Donations are gratefully accepted in support of the organizations that truly made a difference in the last years of his life and would be a loving memorial of John: the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society or the ALS Society of BC.
John, you will be forever in our hearts, deeply missed and always remembered. Rest peacefully, dear one. You are so loved.
A celebration of life to honour John will be held later this year.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de John Douglas Turnbull October 30 1949 June 22 2022 (age 72)..
Décès pour la Ville: Gibsons, Province: Colombie britanique