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Elder JESKE Obituary
With Sadness, we announce the passing of Elder "Zeke" Adolf Jeske at the age of 68 on Saturday, January 27, 2018, after a battle with cancer. Elder was born and raised in Vancouver, and lived his whole life in the Lower Mainland. Elder had a passion for hunting, fishing, music, history and family. He worked as a firearms instructor for the majority of his career and was a strong advocate of firearms safety. He was a gentle, loving husband and father. Elder was predeceased by his parents, Theo and Hertha Jeske, and is survived by his wife Deborah, children Diana (Anthony), Stephen (Vinnie) and Kurt, and extended family and friends. Funeral Service to be held at Forest Lawn Funeral Home (3789 Royal Oak Ave., Burnaby BC) at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 7, 2018 with interment to follow directly, on the property at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to Crossroads Inlet Centre Hospice, Port Moody or Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
15 Entries
Kris Tbain
June 23, 2022
We worked together at Brinks. He really showed me how to shoot a pistol. Dave too.
On a related note, my Dad used to read his articles in BC Outdoors for years. Small world.
Elder was a very nice man. Sorry for your loss.
April 3, 2018
I have just learned (April 03) that Elder has passed. I have known him for a number of years, primarily through our shared interests in firearms. Will miss him & believe he has found peace & health with his Father in heaven. Dave Hardy
With Elder and Debbie on our wedding day in 2013
Vinnie Yuen
February 9, 2018
From the moment I met Elder, he made me feel welcome and included in the family. He was always so eager to tell me his stories and to listen to what's happening in Stephen's life and my life. Less than a year after Stephen and I started dating, he enthusiastically welcomed me to join them for their annual ritual of going to the Abbotsford Airshow. Each Christmas, he filled my stocking at the Jeske home with weird and hilarious gadgets, lottery tickets and chocolates. On multiple occasions, he cooked us our favourite chicken and rice dish and pan fried venison steaks. Even though I only knew him for just 8 years, one thing was abundantly evident -- he loved his family beyond everything. I feel so grateful that Stephen had such a wonderful role model and I have no doubt that his father is the reason Stephen is the man he is today. We love you and miss you.
Angelica Domachowski
February 8, 2018
Debbie, Diana(Anthony),Stephen(Vinnie) and Kurt,
Our sincere condolences on the passing of Elder.
We just learned few minutes ago that Elder passed away. So sorry we didn't attend the funeral. We are so sad that he is gone still young.
I will keep you in my prayers
Tadeusz & Angelica Domachowski
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Doug Reynolds
February 7, 2018
I was at the service today, but didn't get to express my thoughts in person. There were a lot of descriptive words used today to describe Elder, but courage was not heard. I want to say that about 20 years ago when I was given an Atom house hockey team to coach, I had no assistants to help me. Though he could not skate, Elder had the guts to step on to the ice to help me. I have always appreciated that, and remember Elder as a courageous and honorable man for that effort. I am sorry for his passing.
Teresa Sorace
February 7, 2018
Debbie, Diana(Anthony),Stephen(Vinnie) and Kurt,
Our sincere condolences on the passing of Elder. We are thinking of you all during this difficult time. May your loving memories of him sustain you all.
Teresa and Domenico Sorace
Alana LeSueur
February 4, 2018
Debbie, Kelvin and I would like to express our deepest sympathy and condolences for you and your children (and their spouses) in the recent loss of your husband, Elder. It was a very sad day, hearing that news, despite knowing that it was coming at some point. Looking back, you all created a beautiful life, a home and filled it with love, and he was so lucky to have that all around him. May he rest in peace. With love, Alana & Kel LeSueur
Debbie and Terry McMullen
February 2, 2018
Dearest Deb, Diana, Stephen and Curt (and families)
So saddened at Elder's passing but he fought a difficult battle and was so lucky to have you for support and as advocates in his welfare.. He could always count on your caring through the good family times and the tough battles in his life. He was a gentle soul, Wishing you peaceful thoughts as you are together to comfort each other. Debb and Terry McMullen and family
Shylock in a casual photo
Jack Brown
February 2, 2018
Elder from a Shylock photo shoot.
Jack Brown
February 2, 2018
Dean and Nicole Bramich
February 2, 2018
We only knew you briefly but your kindness and generousity were quickly apparent. We were strangers to you but you welcomed us with open arms. A true gentleman. Our deepest sympathies to Debbie, Diana and the family. Sending our love from the other side of the world
Jack Brown
February 1, 2018
It's a sad day today. I just received news that one of my friends and an old band mate Elder Jeske passed away last Saturday. When you lose someone that shared a significant and fun portion of your life, it causes you to reflect on that person and your past.
I don't remember the exact circumstances surrounding Elder and me meeting, but it was sometime in the mid to late 60's. I was an aspiring guitar player, Elder an aspiring keyboard player. We both lived on 14th Avenue in Burnaby, two blocks from each other. We ended up forming our first band together with Daryl Birch and Tony Rokosh, a band we called Drifting Whitley (no explanation for the band name will be provided). We didn't play many gigs, but it did give us the opportunity to cut our teeth and prepared us for the venture ahead. I do recall our signature song was the Door's song Light my Fire, which if I was totally honest, we probably massacred.
But as things go, the members of Drifting Whitely, drifted apart and I found myself looking for a new group. I answered an ad in the Vancouver Sun and managed to connect with John Nicola (bass), Hunter Rogers (drums) and David Wright (guitar) and so the foundation of Shylock was set. David fell by the wayside and we decided to replace the extra guitar with a keyboardist and so the natural fit was Elder Jeske. That became the core group for the next 4 years.
I don't know why or how it happened, but we decided that Elder needed a name upgrade and so we started calling him Zeke. The name stuck, although his mother was not pleased. I made the mistake of calling his home one day, his mother answered and when I asked to speak to Zeke, his mother abruptly told me that There is no one here by that name and then hung up. Lesson learned.
Shylock had a slow start, playing high school gigs, then a couple of gay clubs, and then suddenly we found ourselves as one of the main club bands in Vancouver. That is probably because our main booking agent at the time was Bruce Allen.
Elder's equipment also evolved progressing from an M3 Hammond to a B3 with Leslie speakers. Because of its size, the B3 was a nightmare especially when we played Pharaoh's Retreat, where four of us had to lug this piece of equipment down and up a flight of stairs to get to this subterranean night club. But when that Hammond / Leslie wailed it was worth the effort. I can still remember playing Chest Fever (we covered the Three Dog Night version), where Zeke would play the organ intro. When the Leslie speakers kicked in, it sent shivers down your spine. Even to this day I relive that experience when I hear Chest Fever on the radio.
Sadly in 1973, Shylock broke up and most of us pursued other careers. Elder and I occasionally connected, but not nearly as often as we should have.
About 10 years ago, I was in a line up at HMV Records buying a Christmas present, when the fellow in front of me starting to comment on how slow the line-up was. I didn't recognize the face, but his voice was unforgettable and I immediately said Elder Jeske. Needless to say it was an emotional reunion and we went outside and talked forever. I thought it was uncanny, that two old band mates would reconnect in a music store.
Years earlier, we had discovered that my step brother's wife was Elder's cousin. And at a family gathering we managed to spend hours together reliving old band war stories.
Elder was a kind and gentle person, someone you would be proud to call a friend. I will miss you Zeke, but I am sure heaven will be welcoming you and that Hammond B3 organ.
Jack Brown
February 1, 2018
We took you on our first hunting trip when you where just 16 years old.
Rest in Pease.
Manfred Thoews
Fred Dallyn
February 1, 2018
There will always be a chair at my show table for you my friend .
A fishing day to remember with great friends!
Ben Sutton
January 31, 2018
Elder my friend, I didn't have the pleasure of knowing you for a long time, but I feel fortunate to have known you at all. I know we would have enjoyed going on many fishing trips together, but at least we got to share one. You will be missed by all, but certainly not forgotten. I hope that wherever you are now, the fish are biting and the moose are running. Farewell my friend. Rest in Peace. Your mate, Ben Sutton
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3789 Royal Oak Ave, Burnaby, BC V5G3M1
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