Lieutenant-Colonel John
Francis Feller CD
Lieutenant-Colonel John
Francis Feller, passed away peacefully on June 24th 2011. He was a
loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He is survived by his wife
Vicky, his daughter Sonja Tremblay, (Chris) granddaughter Caitlyn, his sons
David and Adam and granddaughter Nova. Also left to mourn him are
Vicky’s sons Eli (Liz) and Adrian and daughter Clara, his brother Ted (Trudy),
along with his nieces and nephews, and his former wife Marguerite. John
was predeceased by his Mother, Father and beloved brother Joe (Pat).
John was born in the Netherlands, May 14, 1952 and immigrated to Canada
with his Mother, Father and younger brother before his second birthday, to
Lethbridge AB where he grew up. He was involved in military service
to his country for most of his life starting with the Navy League Cadets, then
enrolling in the Canadian Forces in 1970. John attended Royal Roads
Military College in Victoria BC and The Royal Military College in Kingston ON
graduating in 1974 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
John then pursued a military career with postings with 1 Combat Engineer
Regiment and various bases in Canada. He was seconded to the British army
in 1980 and served in the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark and Austria,
including a stint as an instructor at the Royal School of Military Engineering.
On his return to Canada in 1984 he was posted to the National Defence
Headquarters in Ottawa. Among his responsibilities, he developed an
airfield damage repair capability for the CF in Europe. During this period, he
also trained at the United States Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal School and
participated in exercises in the United States, Germany and Norway. John
retired from the Regular Force in 1991.
From 1991 to 2004, John held the position of Director of Facilities
Services for Cariboo College, now Thompson Rivers University. He began a second
career with the Army Reserves when he joined the Rocky Mountain Rangers in 1992.
He served as the Deputy Commanding Officer and then as the regiment’s
Commanding Officer from 1994 to 1999.
Following his appointment as Commanding Officer, John served with the 39
Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters in Vancouver as well as the Land Force
Western Area Headquarters in Edmonton. He returned to full-time service as an
army Reservist in 2004 serving as Transitional Planning Officer and as liaison
to Joint Task Force Pacific. In 2007 John was appointed Commander Task Force
Freetown in the Republic of Sierra Leone, Africa. Upon returning to Canada, he
was involved in the support of the 2010 Olympic Games. Following, he again took
command of The Rocky Mountain Rangers for a second time in 2009 until his
passing.
John will be greatly missed by his family and friends, by his military and
civilian colleagues and by all members of his beloved Regiment.
Funeral services will take place on Sunday, July 3rd at 3:00
p.m., St. Paul’s Cathedral, 360 Nicola St, Kamloops, BC. Procession
from the church will immediately follow. Afterwards, there will be a
Reception starting at 5:00 pm at the Rocky Mountain Rangers Armoury, located at
1221 McGill Road for anyone wishing to attend.
The family wishes to thank
the doctors, nurses and staff at both The Royal Inland Hospital and The Marjorie
Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home for both their professional and
compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, donations
in John’s memory to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, 311 Columbia Street,
Kamloops BC V2C 2T1, www.rihfoundation.ca
will be gratefully appreciated.
Condolences may be expressed
at www.schoenings.com
