Tribute

John was born on April 16, 1956, in New Westminster, British Columbia to Roelof and Maaike Soeten. He was joined by his sister, Melinda, 9 years later. John spent some of his childhood and youth growing up on his parent’s dairy farm but John’s passion, even at a young age, was to become a truck driver. He spent 45 years enjoying that profession.

He met his wife Jackie on October 31, 1981, and they were married October 16, 1982. John and Jackie, along with their children, were fortunate to live for many years on acreage in Abbotsford  where they enjoyed a variety of agriculture pursuits, raising livestock and growing vegetables and apples from an orchard they had planted. They would sell their produce at a weekly farmers’ market as well as from their small farm store. They moved a couple of times over the years but had recently settled in Yarrow.

John was the proud father of his son, Joel, and daughters, Emma and Kate. He enjoyed spending time with them and their spouses and loved all of his grandchildren dearly. He was a kind and gentle man and had a gift for listening and accepting anyone from any walk of life.

When John was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer, he accepted that his earthly life would soon be over but never wavered from declaring God is good. During the last two weeks of his life, he rested in the knowledge that the Lord was calling him home.  John was predeceased by his father Roelof.  He is survived by his wife of almost 44 years, Jackie; son Joel, daughter-in-law Johanna, grandchildren Ellianna, Addison, Ezekiel, Aleena, Eliza, Annorah, Arend, and Amadea; daughter Emma, son-in-law Joel, grandson Bowen; daughter Kate, son-in-law Neko, grandsons Axiano and Frankie; as well as his mother, Maaike Soeten, sister Melinda Soeten, and brother-in-law Gil Read.

John was greatly loved and will be hugely missed.