The death of Lambertus Johannes Loeffen occurred at his home on the 18th of September 2003, after a seven month battle with cancer. John was born 1935 in Apeldoorn, Holland, and came to Canada in 1955. He moved west to Nanaimo B.C. in 1956, where he made his home for he last 47 years. Most of John’s working years were spent in the “Sheet Metal” trade, first with Jack Warwick then with Pacific Sheet Metal. His last nine years before retirement in Dec. 1999, John worked in the Parks and Rec. Dept. for the City of Nanaimo. For over thirty years he spent much of his spare time at The Diners’ Rendezvous starting out by driving the delivery truck their first year of operation, later he bartended, waited tables and helped with the catering business.
Besides his family, John’s biggest joys in life were soccer and classical music. He will be missed by all who knew him.
John was predeceased by his father Hendrikus in 1964, and his mother Johanna (Kuiper) Loeffen in 1969. He is survived by his loving wife Trudy of 34 years, the former Gertrude A. Salter, 3 daughters: Amy(Len Colleen) Cindy (Bill O’Neill) and Shelley, 2 sons: Gerrit J. (Tara) and Tyrone. Also 7 grandchildren, 3 sisters: Elly (Moos Bouwman) Reit (Wynand Van Ginkel), Truus (Peter DeWaard) and 1 brother Rinus (Willey).
Thank you to Dr. Lane, the nurses and staff of the homecare team, and to my family and friends for your care and support. A John Loeffen Classical Music Library will be donated in his memory to Malaspina University College in Nanaimo.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, the 27th of September, 2003 at Bowen Park Complex.