May 6, 2019
William Earl St. John passed away peacefully on the morning of May 6th in Heron Grove Care Home, Vernon, BC.
He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Elsie and his daughter-in-law Karen. Survived by their 6 children; Stephen (Fay), Susan (Stu) Mitchell, Nancy (Tony Schefer), Brian, Tammy (Ripley), Bruce (Jeanne) and 7 grandchildren; Kyle (Hana), Ashley (Jeremy), Doug (Kristina), Andrea (Luke), Paige, Katie, Abby, and 5 great grandchildren; Rokley, Van, Elsie, Kadence and Jack.
He joined the Army in 1942 and in1946 joined the Royal Canadian Engineers eventually posted to Camp Borden with the 23 Composite Brigade. On a winter trial he was sent to Kapuskasing where he met his soon to be wife and married in the spring of 1953. Six months later he was sent to Korea as part of the peace keeping mission. Upon his return in 1954 he continued his military life at Camp Borden, ON. Gagetown, NB, Werl Germany for three years and then to CFB Chilliwack where he retired in 1970 and moved to Chillwack. Returning to the Base as a civil employee in the Sand Blasting/Paint Shop and finally retiring in 1989 to enjoy time puttering in their large garden and volunteering with the Boy Scouts.
After the passing of his wife Elsie in 2006, he volunteered at the Chilliwack Military Museum and most certainly enjoyed his time there up until his move to Vernon in 2012.
No service was requested but his ashes will be placed next to his wife at Little Mountain Cemetery in Chilliwack.
We will certainly miss this dear, gentle and lovely man. Our family was honored to have him as a father, grandfather and great grandfather.