Franciscus Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Puts

Frank was born in Nijmegen, Netherlands on November 10, 1934. He was the second youngest in a large family of 10 children. His family endured the difficult Word War ll years and hosted Canadian soldiers in their home at the end of the war. In 1957, at age 22, Frank immigrated to Canada, and with his sister Jos and her family, they settled in North Vancouver. Their next-door neighbours, the Sas family had also immigrated from the Netherlands that year and the families became good friends. After a few years, when Jos’s family decided to return to the Netherlands, Frank chose to stay and moved in with the Sas family when offered board and room! He became “Uncle Putsie” to Corry, Rudy and Frankie. He took part in all the family activities including chauffeuring kids and attending many baseball and football games. He was even a cub scout leader! Frank was always generous with the kids buying special gifts like transistor radios or records and taking them to special events.

Frank was an master gardener and had a great produce garden growing many wonderful vegetables and fruits! The new potatoes, corn and tomatoes were amazing. He even succeeded with growing kiwis!

When Jackie Sas passed away in 1999, Kees Sas sold the family home and bought a two-bedroom apartment. Kees and Frank became flat mates! The two were like the Odd Couple, Frank doing most of the cooking and Kees keeping the place tidy.

Frank was a wonderful support to Kees while he battled cancer until he passed away in 2004. Frank stayed on in the apartment for a couple of years moving from there into a basement suite and then in 2008, he was fortunate to get an apartment in the newly built Kiwanis St. Andrew’s Manor. He lived there until his passing.

Frank worked at a few different jobs before landing a position as an electrician in the maintenance department at Lion’s Gate Hospital. He enjoyed his work there, and by all accounts was hard working and well-liked by his colleagues. Frank was there for 27 years retiring as Maintenance Supervisor at age 58 in April 1993. He was fortunate to enjoy 30 years of retirement!

Frank loved adventure! In his younger years he went backroads motor cycling. He built his own speed boat, the Bonanza, and taught the Sas family and friends to waterski in Howe Sound and on local lakes. He went rafting on the Colorado River and hiked the West Coast Trail. He skied both cross-country and downhill. His downhill adventures took him to Whistler, Big White, Manning Park and even Jackson Hole, Wyoming where his competitive nature got the better of him and he collided with Frank Sas! He was knocked out cold, injured his arm and hauled down the mountain by the ski patrol!

In Frank’s older years, golf was his sport. In 1984 he joined the Squamish Golf & Country Club and was an avid player there into his early 80s.

Frank was a bachelor all his life but in the early 2000s, he met Grace Bell who lived up a few floors in the same apartment building. She became a constant companion and the two enjoyed many wonderful trips together. It was very difficult for him to lose Grace in 2019.

After Grace passed, Frank’s physical and mental health declined. The loss of his driver’s license meant a loss of independence which was difficult at first. With the support of the family and friends he was able to enjoy outings for coffee, car rides and family celebrations and dinners. He was content watching TV in his recliner in which he also slept!

Early on September 20, 2023, Frank passed away peacefully at North Vancouver Hospice due to post-surgical complications. Frank Sas was at his side.

Frank will be fondly remembered by his “adopted” family, Corry Ewens/Sas (Peter), Rudy as (Lauren), Frank Sas (Dawna) and their families as well as Grace’s family Lisa Delarue, Gord Riffel and their daughter Rebecca. He will also be missed by his long time LGH friends, neighbours John and Deanna at St. Andrew’s Manor and his many relatives in the Netherlands.

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Memorial/Boal Chapel (1505 Lillooet Road, NV) on Saturday, November 11 at 2:00. If you wish to remember Frank in a special way, a donation in his name can be made to Lion’s Gate Hospital Foundation.

Rest in Peace “Putsie”.