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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BOE, John - (22 Jul 1922 - 20 Jan 2019) - It is with profound sadness that the family of John Boe announces his passing on January 20, 2019, at the age of 96 years. John will be greatly missed by his son, John Jr. (Sharon); daughter, Wendy (Jim); granddaughters, Heather (Mark) and Christina (Tyler); great-grandsons, Milo and Lincoln; his brother, Elmer (Joyce); and sister, Dolly. He will also be forever remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family in Norway, and dear friends. John was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Allison Ruth Boe; sisters, Helga and Magda; and brother, Kenneth. John was born in Oppdal, Norway, to Ingeborg and Theodore. At age six he travelled to Canada with his mother and two sisters, arriving at Fraser Mills to join their father. A resident of the Coquitlam area for over 80 years, he attended Millside School, where he learned English with the help of comic books. After grade 11, John joined the Canadian Navy during WWII and received training in Esquimalt, BC; Scotland; and Plymouth, England, where he was inspected by King George VI. Beginning on D-Day, his landing craft, LCI(L)-135, made 13 trips across the English Channel to the Juno beaches. John was one of two men onboard responsible for the main engines and stern winch, which was used to pull the ship off the beach once soldiers had disembarked. John was eventually sent back to Esquimalt to prepare for the planned, and later cancelled, invasion of Japan. It was during this time he met the love of his life, Allison (nee Shrewsbury), who took pity on his terrible roller-skating skills. They married in Victoria in 1948, honeymooned at Alouette Lake and rented an apartment in New Westminster before acquiring land in Coquitlam. Together they built a house on Cape Horn, overlooking the Fraser River. John owned and operated Sapperton Motors with his partner, Scotty Borthwick, for over 30 years, offering mechanical services to residents of New Westminster and the Tri-Cities. An avid outdoorsman, he loved to explore BC with his wife, children, and eventually, grandchildren. He made many memories with family and friends at both Shuswap and Gun Lake, two places that meant so much to him. Optimistic, funny, and slightly mischievous, stories abound from those who had the pleasure of calling John a friend: bathtub races, fishing on the Fraser, snowmobile adventures, ice-fishing, raucous road trips, waterskiing, and the occasional footrace against a horse... barefoot. On most Sundays you could find John seated with his family at the ABC Country restaurant, eating a single green egg Benny with a hot water. His family was his pride and joy and he will be deeply and forever missed by them. A Celebration of John's remarkable life will be held at the family home on Sunday, March 3rd, 2019, from 1 pm to 4 pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favourite charity. (Tri-City News 01 Feb 2019)
RCN Memories: On the upper decks on D-Day
Ships served in:
After the war, John Boe and my Dad (Carl Jensen) remained lifelong friends. John and a partner opened Sapperton Motors in New Westminster in the early 50’s. A May Day parade was held every year in New West and Sapperton Motors usually had an old vehicle in the parade on Columbia Street. This photo was taken in I believe 1955 or 56. That’s John Boe driving and Dad with the sideways mustache (1st photo) and sitting on the hood (2nd photo). I’m pretty sure that wasn’t water in the jug. I saw John in 2015, years after my Dad had died and it was very apparent he missed his old navy buddy very badly. A friendship forged in war that lasted a lifetime. Submitted by Gerry Jensen
Click on the photos to view larger images
John Boe and Carl Jensen (right) while out moose hunting.
My Dad and John went moose hunting almost every year in the 50’s. We moved to Southern California in 1960 and moved back to BC 9 years later. Even though I was Canadian, as long as you had been in the US for longer than 6 months you were considered permanent resident. When I turned 18, just before graduation from high school in 1966, I had to register for the draft and was classified 1A, first guy on the boat to Viet Nam. I have 3 younger brothers and my Dad, after what he went through in WWII said no sons of his were going to end up in that war and we moved back to BC. Anyway, Dad and John did a few more moose hunts into the early 80’s. I think it was the last time they went hunting and you can see they were bosom buddies. Dad had taken out his partial plate for the correct “look”. (submitted by Gerry Jensen)
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