Mr. John Helge Linquist

December 7th, 1928 - March 1st, 2014

John, spent most of his career, teaching in Surrey. However, his life's lessons were his most important gift. He will be loved and remembered for his kind and encouraging words, his warmth and understanding, his optimism, wry sense of humor, and his indomitable, courageous spirit. John is lovingly remembered by his devoted sister, Margaret Linquist (Roland), his children, Kristine Mattson (John), Eric Linquist (Lorraine), Michelle Linquist, and his six grandaughters and one great grandaughter: Amelia, Jennilee, Erika, Kristin, Tia, Tara, and Adrianna. He also leaves behind his loving, ex wife, Bonnie Linquist (Australia) and cousin, Maryanne Currie and family, plus much family in Finland and Sweden.

A Family Graveside Service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby on Tuesday, March 11th, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Creekside Mausoleum. Please visit www.forestlawn-burnaby.com to view a complete obituary and leave messages of condolence.

John was born in Vancouver and spent his first years living with his parents, Hilma and Verner Linquist, and younger sister, Gunvor Margareta, on Georgia Street. From grades 1 - 3, he moved to the "wilds" of a McMillan and Bloedel logging camp, located inland from Campbell River. He fondly remembered this time in his life, although he apparently failed grade one because he couldn't speak English! During this time, he also acquired an aversion to anything "mustard," (such as curry) because he frequently had to endure Ninnie's mustard plasters on his chest, as a homemade antidote to bronchitis and other chest infections. After leaving the logging camp, the Linquists moved to their family home in North Burnaby where, on a couple acres, they all worked hard, planting a fruit orchard, vegetable garden and raspberry fields. The barn housed a cow, a pig, and chickens. This sustained them during the rationing of WW II, but there were lots of chores!!

John attended Capitol Hill Elementary School and Burnaby North High School. There, he was well liked and respected for his athletic and leadership abilities, captaining a championship soccer team and playing a key role in the basketball, volleyball, and badminton teams. In his graduation year, he was dubbed "Mr. Athlete." Following high school, John played on lacrosse and rugby teams; he was an amazing, self taught, swimmer, once swimming across the Burrard Inlet and back! Although he never played football, he remained an ardent , life long fan of the BC Lions!

After working for a few years as a general laborer, and working at the Shell Oil Refinery, John attended UBC for three years. He then decided to become a teacher and attended Normal School. It was here that he met his first wife, Jan Merrill (deceased) and soon afterwards, started a family (Kris and Eric). After his divorce, John met and married Bonnie Ross and baby Michelle was born.

As his family changed and grew, John was employed as a grade 7, 8, 9 teacher with the Surrey School Board. During his lengthy career, John was a respected, meticulous, dedicated, enthusiastic teacher and, at one point, was offered a principalship. Always the sports enthusiast, he coached soccer, basketball, and gymnastics, making friends with his colleagues, both on and off the basketball court and the fairways. It was during a friendly, after school match with his chums that he popped off his achilles tendon! "Firm but fair" was his teaching and parenting philosophy and it worked for him. John will be remembered for his compassion and fairness, his kind and encouraging words, his warmth and understanding, wry sense of humor, and his indomitable, courageous spirit. He fought the fight, ran the race, and reached the finish.

John will be dearly missed by his devoted sister, Gunvor Margaret Linquist (Roland), his children, Kristine Mattson (John), Eric Linquist (Lorraine), and Michelle Linquist, and his six grand daughters and one great grand daughter: Amelia, Jennilee, Erika, Kristin, Tia, Tara, and Adrianna. He also leaves behind his loving ex wife, Bonnie Linquist (Australia), and cousin, Maryanne Currie (Alex) and family and many more relatives in Finland and Sweden.

The family wishes to extend their appreciation and gratitude to the caring and devoted staff and caretakers at Seton Villa Retirement Centre (15 years), and St. Michael's Care Home, where John spent his final year.