Tribute

My forever friend and husband,  John Henry Fast, passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of May 20, 2025.

He was born on March 22, 1938 in Osterwick , Ukraine, 3rd  son of Heinrich and Katharina Fast.  When the 2nd World War broke out in 1943, his father went to war and his mother along with his sister Erika, baby brother Victor and himself were forced to flee to Badhersfeld , Germany and his father joined them later after the war ended.

In December 1949, the family set sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, then boarded a train and traveled across Canada to their new home in Yarrow, British Columbia.

John went to school in Yarrow in his early years and then onto  Chilliwack High School where he graduated from grade 12 in 1958. He then took a book keeping course and got a job, book keeping for Canadian Fisheries Company  in the Queen  Charlottes but that did not last too long as his first love was truck driving. He was a truck driver in the road construction industry and also worked on the Bennett Dam project in his early years. He enjoyed travelling to places like England, Europe, and Mexico.

Then in November 1971, he married Mavis and they made their home in Yarrow…in 1972 their daughter , Lillian was born , then their son, Gary was born in 1974 to make the family complete. Shortly after they were married , John started a job for Valley Ready Mix as a ready mix truck driver and later became the quality control inspector for Valley Rite Mix, which later became LaFarge Ready Mix Canada until he retired in 2000.

During these years while living in Yarrow, John was a member of the Yarrow Fire Department for 27 years and he also served on the Yarrow Water  Works  Board  for several years.  John and Mavis were quite active in the Yarrow community serving time on the Yarrow Days committee for 11 years and also coaching and umpiring for youth softball games in Yarrow.

In 2002, they moved to Sardis, making the Edenbank Complex  their retirement home. Through their retirement years, they managed to do a fair amount of travelling and cruising to places like Hawaii, New York and the Canadian east coast, to the Panama Canal , the Caribbean  and Florida in the south  and as far north as Alaska which they did many times.

During their retirement years they added a new member to the family when Gary married Stefanie and they had Heather and Logan making  them grandparents.

John is pre-deceased by his parents Heinrich and Katharina, brothers Heinz and Alexander at a very young age in Ukraine, sister Erika in 1995 and brother Victor in 2010.   He will be dearly missed by his wife Mavis of 53 years, his daughter Lillian , son Gary and wife Stefanie and grandchildren Heather and Logan. He is also survived by his sister in law Maryann; nephew Steve and Joanne , their children  Katrina and Breanne; niece Kathy and her daughter Jemma; brother in law Jack Balzer, niece Darlene and Doug and children Angela, River and Forest and brother in law Glen  Griner.  Also survived by many cousins and friends that he has acquired over the years.

His final resting place will be in Yarrow and a celebration of life luncheon will be held on Saturday at 11:00 am , May 31,  2025 at the Salvation Army Community Church fellowship room on Brooks Avenue in Chilliwack.

  “ till we meet again….always in our hearts forever”

A special thank you to the Fraser Health team for the wonderful care they gave John to keep him home for his final days. Also a big thank you to Dr. Sia for your care and compassion and to the hospital team on the 4th floor  at Chilliwack while he was there.

No flowers by request,   if you wish, you may make a donation to the Salvation Army in Chilliwack.