Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Wilfred JANES Obituary
Wilf (aka Woody) grew up in Comox, BC and never lost his love for the valley, returning to the family homestead faithfully for over 50 years, where many treasured family members still reside.
Wilf graduated from UBC in 1951 with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, which he financed by working in the Cumberland logging camps each summer. After graduating, Wilf made his way to Suffield, Alberta where he met, fell in love and married Lou.
Wilf worked for Shell Canada for over 30 years, of which not one day was considered work. He loved his job and co-workers like a second family. During his esteemed career, which he started in the laboratory at the Shell Refinery, Burnaby 1954, was promoted and transferred across Canada, eventually retiring in Vancouver as a respected Manager, Products & Applications Department, December 1984. While working in Vancouver, as a result of his well earned respect, work ethic and reputation, he was invited to join the Engineers Club.
Wilf, who was liked by everyone who knew him, enjoyed a lifelong passion for fishing, hunting, travelling to Hawaii for over 20 years, cruising to ports around the world, bowling, gardening, a friendly game of poker and making breakfast for his family every Sunday morning. We miss you we have our memories to sustain us.
No service by request.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Wilfred JANES
2 Entries
David Salter
February 6, 2020
I was saddened to see Wilf's obituary in the latest Shell Retiree obit mailing (an informal mailing by one of our number).
I worked with Wilf in the Montreal office of PAD in about 1964/5. As an immigrant chemical engineer from England I was initially placed in the Montreal East refinery lab and that must have been when I first met Wilf when he dropped in with an analytical request. I believe he then invited me to your house in Ville d'Anjou, probably for dinner, as I remember Lou was cooking baked beans. Coming from England, I only knew of them from a Heinz can!
I managed to get into the Montreal PAD office fairly quickly, where I was mentored by Wilf and John Lusk, our Manager. Wilf was greatly respected by the Marketing staff (by whom we were often called upon for technical help) because of his technical knowledge and practical experience in the field with all kinds of industries that Shell served. I particularly remember Wilf lecturing at one of the courses we gave for the Marketing staff. He held a long wooden pointer, with a hand at each end, and as he talked he flexed the pointer for emphasis. The audience was on tenterhooks, waiting to see if the pointer would break!
Wilf occasionally talked about his days in the woodlands and I believe he worked as a top man in the trees to facilitate in the felling. He also talked about his fishing on the West Coast and canning the results of the catch - but never persuaded me to try it.
When our family (wife and 2 kids) were planning to travel from Montreal to Vancouver for the first time in the summer of 1968, we drove to Winnipeg, camping on the way, and then left our car with Wilf and Lou, so that we could take the train the rest of the way. I remember Lou saying why not drive the rest of the way? You are almost there, or words to that effect!
Over the following years I consulted with Wilf a few times, as he moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver, and always appreciated his advice. I am sure you will have many happy memories to help you through the difficult times of your bereavement.
My condolences and best wishes,
David Salter
Bath, Ontario
[email protected]
January 8, 2020
Safe travels Wood. Hope they are catching lots of big ones there!
Rob & Jenny.
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results