Obituary for John Peter Burns
Born September 7, 1932 in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England, where he was known as Peter. Died August 24, 2022, aged 89, in Burnaby, BC. Survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Hazel, as well as his children John, Janet (Murray), and Christine. Proud granddad to Bethany and Ian. Predeceased by his sister June in Ontario. Also missed by his sisters Pauline and Hazel in England, and their families.
John was a keen sportsman and especially loved football (soccer) and cricket, playing with county teams in both sports, and apprenticing with Stoke City FC under Bob McGrory and Manchester United FC under Sir Matt Busby. He had vivid memories of growing up in wartime England, which spurred his interest in, and encyclopedic knowledge of, WWII history.
John was restless and, inspired by the steamships he saw as a boy while visiting his grandparents in Liverpool (and imagining the possibilities just over the horizon), he and Hazel moved to Canada in 1957. There were so many “Peters” in his workplace, that he was called “John” instead, and the name stuck. All 3 children were born in Ontario before the punishing winters drove the family to the West Coast.
John trained at North Staffordshire Technical College and most of his employment was in the field of technical illustration. His true passion, though, was soccer. He devoted countless hours to the BC youth soccer scene, and the development of young players, and served in several capacities with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The family would like to thank the staff at Burnaby Hospital, especially Dr. Mosca and nurses Susan Cox-Russell and Winnie of the Complex Palliative Care unit, for their excellent and compassionate care in John’s last days.
No service is planned. If you wish, you may remember John through a memorial donation to the Burnaby Hospital Complex Palliative Care Unit or the Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network, or by taking in a local youth soccer game.
John was a keen sportsman and especially loved football (soccer) and cricket, playing with county teams in both sports, and apprenticing with Stoke City FC under Bob McGrory and Manchester United FC under Sir Matt Busby. He had vivid memories of growing up in wartime England, which spurred his interest in, and encyclopedic knowledge of, WWII history.
John was restless and, inspired by the steamships he saw as a boy while visiting his grandparents in Liverpool (and imagining the possibilities just over the horizon), he and Hazel moved to Canada in 1957. There were so many “Peters” in his workplace, that he was called “John” instead, and the name stuck. All 3 children were born in Ontario before the punishing winters drove the family to the West Coast.
John trained at North Staffordshire Technical College and most of his employment was in the field of technical illustration. His true passion, though, was soccer. He devoted countless hours to the BC youth soccer scene, and the development of young players, and served in several capacities with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The family would like to thank the staff at Burnaby Hospital, especially Dr. Mosca and nurses Susan Cox-Russell and Winnie of the Complex Palliative Care unit, for their excellent and compassionate care in John’s last days.
No service is planned. If you wish, you may remember John through a memorial donation to the Burnaby Hospital Complex Palliative Care Unit or the Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network, or by taking in a local youth soccer game.