Jacques passed away peacefully at home Aug 30, 2014. He was born in the Netherlands May 31, 1946. He served as a radio officer with the Dutch Merchant Fleet until 1970. In 1969, he met his wife Hetty Koedyk, who who raised in Winnipeg, but hitch-hiking around Europe at the time and visiting her Dutch birthplace. He came to Canada in 1970, and they were married in Aug 1971. After earning his Canadian equivalency in communication in Ottawa, they spent the next nine years in Northern Alberta, the N.W.T. and the Yukon. Their daughters Heather and Cynthia were born in Hay River, N.W.T. Jacques worked as a flight service specialist and airport manager for the Ministry of Transport in 1980, he transferred to the Coast Guard and was station manager in Comox. He became the project manager for the new facility at Lazo. Before he retired in 1998, he designed and coordinated the Earthquake Preparedness Plan in liaison with Washington State C.G. He was also responsible for lighthouse de-staffing and buoy placement as mandated by the Federal Gov’t. He volunteered to oversee L.I.P. Projects; as a paramedic; firefighter; and locally with C.O.P. He taught boating safety, and manned booths at Nautical Days. He loved to entertain people with this embellished stories; and to make and repair anything wooden, electrical or electronic, in his well-stocked basement.
He was predeceased by his father Jacob Ploeg in 1978.
He is survived by his wife, Hetty, his daughters Heather (Roger) Graham of Vancouver, Cynthia (Stephen) Walker, grandchildren Matthew, Emily and Benjamin Walker of England. His mother Gerarda Pijning, brother Herman (Gertrude) Ploeg, sister Gerda (Hans) Smit all in the Netherlands, and one nephew and several nieces.
Donations may be made to Cancer research or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Thank you to everyone who made his last months at home possible.
A Celebration of his Life will be held on Tuesday, September 9, at 7PM at the Black Creek MB Church 7898 N. Island Hwy. Casual dress.