Gerald Peter Enns

On February 1st our remarkable dad, grandfather, husband, brother, father in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend left on a journey, an adventure, we hope to a place of calm, joy and endless beauty. He has always been our compass. Guiding and bringing us to a place of safety and acceptance. A place filled with unmountable love and purity. He was our teacher, confidant, defender, daily news updater, and debater. He gave us a love of community and the importance of neighbours. His endless passion for poetry, songs, history and politics. The way he looked at our mother with such delight and giddiness. Even as time has begun growing patches of dark throughout her brain; memories disappearing, cognitive abilities dissipating, he gave her never ending protection, dignity and the softest landing filled with a love thickened by 52 years of marriage.

A child of immigrants (refugees) he was taught a deep importance of communitarian love. That without the health, social and emotional wealth of our community we are nothing. Conflict transformation; a small gift from his Mennonite ancestry speaks to us of how our father saw the world and tried to engage with it. He truly believed that looking after one another is the heart of humanity.

Although he was impatient when it came to being on time, especially the ferry as he would roll up to the line up far earlier than needed (even prior to the overloads we see today), he was incredibly patient with all things life. Our dad was a storyteller, the stories sometimes too long, but if we really listened he tied in boundless knowledge of history and politics, often a life lesson or just the beauty in life.

Our dad loved simple things; soft cookies, canned yumminess by his big sister, marmalade, a good conversation, run-ins with Quadra people, and old Campbell River friends, his grand babies, the constant invasion of us, his daughters, and the love of his beautiful wife Susan.

Dad loved Heriot Bay. Every day he would stare at the sea and mountains, the busyness during the summer and the quiet peace during the winter months. Grampa Doogie staring back at him; a man he fully and completely adored.

Dad was a thinker, perhaps in another life he would have been a professor teaching above all else the importance of questioning everything. Discussing hard conversations, dissecting and diving deep.

Math, dad loved math. He saw poetry where his children just rolled their eyes in pain at the excruciating sequence of numbers.

Dad was soft and gentle. He was the one who snuggled us hard when our hearts were heavy. Our dad worked hard and in the things he set his mind to he was meticulous. As owner of the Heriot Bay Store he saw this place not just as a business but a place where he could be of service. Where he could support those in need and in times of difficulty he worked hard at restorative justice. A paddle carved with love sits above our father's chair. The man had held our dad in a choke hold at the store, but our dad saw a human before him, saw the indignities thrown at this man and gave his heart. The next time dad saw this man he was gifted the paddle. This was our dad.

We are forever grateful for him, for the way he laughed and smiled, all of his nuances, his extreme dry sense of humour, his passions, and simply how he loved. Though of course in his 78 years he was stuck on some things but we are in awe of how he made change and he worked on himself. He grew in a time where racism was even more thick than today, prejudices and ignorances the norm, but he grew. He constantly consumed information and talked things through. He learned to cook, he learned to clean, he fought for women to be on equal footing, and for equality for all. He hated the injustices and the pains caused to others, and to the environment. He dove into his own family stories and came to terms and he shared this with us. He wanted to simply just do the right thing. He had the privilege to grow and become truly wonderful.

We are gutted but are gentle in knowing that our dad was a gift to us. Our compass has given us tools, and forever is in our heart.

"In watermelon sugar the deeds were done and done again as I live my life in watermelon sugar."

-RB-

Our mother, Susan, has become quite isolated due to dementia, the pandemic and now with the loss of her deepest love. We would love any stories or memories of Jerry, of dad, to help lessen the isolation and to feel the embrace of the community that both her and dad so deeply love/loved. This would be so immensely appreciated. They can be sent to P.O. Box 10 Heriot Bay BC V0P 1H0 or to [email protected].

With all of our love and gratitude, Natalee, Sara, and Tasha.