John Paul VAN DER HAEGEN

March 09, 1976 - January 24, 2026

John passed away peacefully at the age of 49 surrounded by a roomful of his loving family.

John was a caring person who was genuinely liked by everyone he met. He had an easy way of connecting with people, a quick sense of humor and a kindness that made others feel welcome and at ease. Whether he was making people laugh or showing up when someone needed him, John had a gift for making life better for those around him.

Above all else, John was a devoted father. He was endlessly proud of his two children, Eli and Maddi. Eli, age 12, shares John's love of sport and is very involved in soccer. John was a huge supporter of his team and was loved and appreciated by all of Eli's coaches and teammates as well as other soccer parents. Maddi, age 10, expresses her creativity through her love of art and music. Being their dad was John's greatest joy. And his love for them was unwavering and obvious to all who knew him.

John shared his life with his loving wife Alena who stood by him with strength, compassion and unwavering dedication. Together they built a family grounded in love, laughter and care for one another.

John was deeply loved and cherished by his mother, Carol and his father, Eugene, whose pride in him never wavered and whose bond with him remained strong throughout his life.

He will also be sincerely missed by his brother, Brian, to whom he was also a best friend and confidant. A partner in crime and his biggest fan.

He was treated and loved as a son and will be missed by his mother in law Terry Poncelet and his father-in-law, Ron Nagel.

He was a proxy brother to his sister-in-law, Lauren, and his Japanese brother, Ryu Hagihara who held a special place in his heart.

John was a joyous and loving uncle to his niece Penelopea and his nephew, Rufus, whom he always had a joke for and cared deeply for him.

John will be remembered as a loving father, devoted husband, cherished son, brother, uncle, cousin and loyal friend. His generosity and big heart will be deeply missed, but the impact he had on the people who loved him will never fade.

John is survived by his wife Alena, his children Maddi and Eli, his parents, Carol and Eugene, brother, Brian, sister-in-law, Lauren, their children, Penelopea and Rufus, his many aunts, uncles and cousins who love him dearly.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 31 at Sequoia Gardens (McCalls), 4665 Falaise Drive, at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Victoria Hospital Foundation with donations directed specifically to the Cardiac Care Unit at Jubilee Hospital. Donations can be made by phone at 250-519-17650.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to every staff member on the Cardiac Care Team who provided kind and compassionate care to John and the family.