Dr. George Enns

George Enns was born on January 13, 1931, in Chilliwack General Hospital – the same hospital where he worked for many years as a family physician and where he eventually died on September 12, 2017. He was the ninth child of Henry and Margaretha Enns and was raised on a farm in nearby Yarrow. His childhood included schooling as well as work on the family farm. In his teen years, he was employed on local hop farms before graduating from high school in 1948. He subsequently became the first and only member of his family to leave for a university education at UBC. He was an excellent student and was accepted into dentistry at the University of Alberta, from which he graduated in 1956.

He returned to Chilliwack and was practicing dentistry when he met and married his wife Helen in 1958. Shortly thereafter, he decided to pursue a career in medicine. Already with two children (Don and Rob), George and Helen relocated back to Edmonton for medical school beginning in 1962, with Helen supporting the family as a nurse. Their youngest child arrived in 1965 (Gord), followed by George's graduation from medical school in 1966. Once again the family relocated back to Chilliwack where he remained a resident for the rest of his life.

George practiced medicine until 1994 at which time he retired from professional life. Many of his dental patients followed him into medical practice and some still will proudly point out dental work that he performed on them decades ago. His attachment to his patients was of paramount importance to him; his family remembers many Christmas gatherings, family vacations or similar events that were delayed because of an unexpected medical crisis in one of his patients.

The combination of his great faith and generous nature led George to serve in other ways beyond caring for those in his medical practice. He acted as Chief of Staff at Chilliwack General for many years. He served on the Chilliwack School Board. He was a longstanding member of the Chilliwack Alliance Church where he also served as Chair and Board member on numerous occasions. In 1971, he made his first trip overseas as a medical doctor to the Dominican Republic and Haiti with the Christian Medical Society. Volunteering his services with various organizations became a recurrent part of his life and he frequently chose to forego vacations in order to work in the most unstable, war-torn and poverty stricken areas on Earth. There were stints varying from two weeks and up to one year in Rwanda, Sudan, Cambodia, Nicaragua, Belize, Ukraine, Siberia, Zambia, Mexico and others. Teaching was a large part of his overseas work and involved medical students, medics, midwives and even restoration of hospital services after the genocide in Kigali, Rwanda. His overseas work was recognized by numerous organizations. The Canadian Medical Association granted him a lifelong membership. Rotary International presented him with the prestigious Paul Harris award for his selfless service – this award hangs in his home to this day.

Despite his rewarding and diverse professional life, George would consider his greatest legacy and success to be his family. His marriage of 59 years was the anchor on which he based his personal life. He only did one overseas trip without his wife – a decision he later would describe to confidantes as a mistake. Like a ship without a rudder, George felt lost without his Helen and frequently told others how fortunate he was to have found her. Her years of faithful and faultless care as his frailty progressed allowed him to remain at home for all but the last few hours of his life.

He followed the lives of his sons and their families carefully and celebrated their successes with great pride. He prayed fervently for their spiritual wellbeing and encouraged humility, generosity, kindness and dedication. His gentle spirit and natural contentedness with be missed by all of us. He is survived by his beloved wife Helen, three sons, Don, Rob (Julie), and Gord (Tammy) as well as eight grandchildren: Brianna (Steve), Charis (Brock), Cassandra, Andrew, Janae, Kierra, Chasyn and Nathan.

We miss you, Dad, and will continue to do so until we meet again.