John Rex Sargeant

John was born on June 23, 1928, in the small village of Goxhill, Lincolnshire, England, to Jack and Sarah Sargeant. His parents as well as his elder brother, Courtney, and his niece, Angela, predeceased him.

Growing up between the wars and during the depression left a lasting impression. One of his fondest childhood memories was travelling by ferry with his parents to Hull across the Humber River on market days, to sell meat and produce grown on their small holding.

John began an automotive apprenticeship in 1946 and was a member of the Royal Air Force from 1946-1948, a time which took him to Egypt and India. Following completion of his apprenticeship in 1949, he began a lengthy career in the automotive field. He completed an engineering technology program and joined Hull Telephone Company where he remained from 1955 until 1967. He was placed in charge of the transportation division and was responsible for everything associated with a large fleet of vehicles and specialty equipment. John was proud of his accomplishments at Hull Telephone, particularly when he designed and oversaw the construction of a large shop facility that could handle everything from maintenance and repair to body work and painting.

In 1950 he married Ora Ness, and they were together for fifty-seven years until her passing in 2007. Settling in Hull, East Yorkshire, John and Ora’s life was full and included volunteering with the local operatic society and competing in archery competitions. John devoted hundreds of hours to help restore Yorkshire’s Burton Constable Hall and its contents - no small task for a house dating back to the Norman Conquest! Many vacations were spent sailing on the Norfolk Broads and camping on “the continent.”

John and Ora emigrated to Canada in 1967, following their good friends, Anne and Owen Gloster, and their two boys.

In Duncan, John worked at City Service Garage before he was employed at Crofton Pulp and Paper for more than twenty years.

John was always a man of many talents and interests. He was a problem-solver, do-it-yourselfer, and could work out how to overcome various challenges. He, like his father, was a builder. He constructed several boathouses in Maple Bay, and did a lot of work on his own home. He was a gifted photographer, sometimes working professionally, and a founding member of the Cowichan Valley Camera Club. Always interested in technology, John was instrumental in the establishment of the Mac User Group, and maintained an avid interest in computers, even buying himself a new one for Christmas at the age of 97!

John was a proud member of Duncan’s Masonic Temple Lodge No. 33. He felt strongly that his involvement made him a better person. He cherished the friendships and camaraderie he found there.

As indicated, John had many interests. These included history, music, theatre, the arts in general, and for much of his life enjoyed discussions and debates involving politics and life in general. He was a particular fan of opera as well as ballet. Faust and Coppelia were favourites. Not a Christmas has gone by without John watching the 1951 Alastair Sim version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. He knew every line.

His mind was excellent until the end. He never forgot a picture, and had a fine sense of humour.

Left to mourn John, or Sarge as we often called him, are his special friend, longtime companion, and devoted caregiver, Trish Rankin; his two “nephews,” Kerr (Anne) and Hugh (Brenda) Gloster; his great nieces, Heather and Julie; Angela’s husband, Trevor, and their family in England; along with many good friends including Myke, Elwyn, Ian, Margaret, Karen and Gillian in England.

A gathering to honour John will be held later in the summer. In lieu of flowers, John would be pleased if you would consider a donation to a charity of your choice.