Mr. Michael John Fenner

April 21st 1931 - November 26th 2020

Michael was a very dignified and gracious gentleman and a loving husband to Edith for nearly 60 years of married life together. He passed away peacefully, with his Goddaughter by his side, while in hospice care a few days after Edith's sudden death. While it is a devastating loss to those who knew and cared deeply for Michael, it is a blessing and rather beautiful that he and Edith were not long apart.

Michael was the eldest son of John Ainsworth Fenner and Muriel Morrison Clucas (Isle of Man) and was born near Manchester England on the 21st April 1931. Richard his younger brother was born 13 years later in September 1944. Michael and Richard’s father died in January 1946 (41 years old), he was a steel buyer for the Ford Motor Company based in Manchester. Michael, 14 at the time, was attending Rossall Public School in Fleetwood, Lancashire. Within the school Cadet activities he established himself as a crack shot with a rifle and won various events at Bisley. Hockey was played on the beach in the winter. In later years he attended one or two famous school anniversaries from Canada.

After leaving his school education he was conscripted into the army ( R.E.M.E) and spent most of his time in Libya North Africa. After leaving his army days he joined the Ford Motor Company near London following in his father's footsteps. An opportunity occurred for him to work for Ford in the U.S.A. Waiting for his visa documents he went to Toronto, the documents never arrived. He then joined the Rover Motor Company in Toronto and was one of the team to purchase the V8 engine (still used today) from Buick. He subsequently, with Edith after their marriage, spent some time in Dallas-Fort Worth and then transferred to Vancouver. In the 60's Mike and Edith travelled and lived in south west London, spending nearly 2 years travelling around Europe before returning to Vancouver.

On their return to Vancouver, they commenced their own car dealership business in Richmond – first Fenner for Fiat and then Fenner Motors. After some years, they purchased a prestigious site in the Richmond Auto Mall and built up a successful Volvo and Subaru dealership. Mike and Edith during this period made every effort on their European trips to meet all his relatives in England (sadly now all passed away) and always saw his brother Richard and sister in law Nicole and his niece Claire, whether in England, Belgium or France.

One of Mike's passionate hobbies was discovering all his ancestors, tracing the Fenner family tree going back to 1630. Other interests included vintage cars and he always had great pleasure with his 1952 ALVIS going to many local vintage car events. He also was an avid reader, enjoying both fiction and non fiction especially British and military history. Michael was interesting and wonderful company and a generous host. There are many who treasure happy memories of times spent with Michael and Edith over years of friendship, including shared holidays abroad.

All who met Michael, recognized him for the true gentleman that he was. He never failed to treat people with dignity, respect and interest in them as people. Even in his last weeks at the Lions Gate Hospital Palliative Care Wing and then the North Shore Hospice, the wonderful and caring staff recognized his innate kindness and were touched by his interest and concern in their own well being, especially in the difficult circumstances facing those in the frontline of healthcare this year.

The Fenner family, Richard and Nicole, Claire and Kris Selen and their 2 children Valmont and Florian are heartbroken with the double loss now to their much reduced family. They wish to express their deep condolences and thanks to Alison, Mike's goddaughter, who has had an enormous burden over this very sad period in our lives. Thoughts go out to Michael’s long time friends and those of more recent years, as well as close neighbours, and associates and to Edith's extended family.

In lieu of flower, those wishing to honour Michael’s life and memory may wish to make donations in his name to the charitable organization of their choice.