Dessens – Jan Auke
Jan passed away peacefully at Kelowna Hospice House on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at the age of 84. He was born and raised in Delft, The Netherlands and immigrated with his wife and their 4 children to Canada in 1966. The family enjoyed life in Calgary and Hudson Bay (Saskatchewan). Jan and Johanna later retired to their beloved Summerland, BC in 1986. They enjoyed their retirement by going for many long walks and exploring the Okanagan valley. They especially enjoyed their garden full of flowers where they spent much time tinkering away.
An engineer by profession, Jan’s love of building and creating carried through his entire life. He was always working on projects. Jan loved to problem solve and invent. He was an avid photographer. Throughout his life, Jan enjoyed camping, canoeing, sailing, biking, walking, volunteering and travelling for work and with his family. He also loved his cat “Pookie”. He was a devoted husband and father. Jan will be dearly and forever missed by his family and friends including his loving wife of 59 years Johanna, daughters Claudine Dessens (Dwight Tucker) of Calgary and Beda Dessens (Jim MacKenzie) of St. Albert, sons Peter Dessens (Jacqueline Kane) of Kelowna and John Dessens of Edmonton, grandsons Christopher Dessens of Edmonton and Stephen Haas (Haley Haas) of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, great granddaughter Aurora Haas of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, sister Jeannette Nilssen of Moss, Norway and extended family.
The family would like to especially thank Dr. Michael Bobyn, his colleagues, KGH nursing staff and Hospice House for the excellent care Jan received. A private family service was held at Springfield Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 23, 2011. Memorial donations may be made to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation at 2268 Pandosy St., Kelowna, BC, V1Y 1T2. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com.