John Keith Drake
March 4th, 1962 ~ July 9th, 2021
John Drake, 59, went home to be with our Lord on July 9, 2021.
John was well known and respected worldwide for his love of God, his big heart, helping hands, having a good debate and topping it off with a good dessert.
John started out in St. Thomas Ontario and moved with family to New Brunswick at the age of 11. There he found his love for God, candle making, stamp collecting, sailing, and collecting old cameras. At the age of 15 he moved with family to British Columbia and shortly after to Alberta. Alberta brought high school graduation with honors and his first job custom painting with family friend, Ernie Waldner. He was soon moving with family again, this time back to British Columbia where he worked at his parents’ new business venture, C. Drake & Sons Ltd. Moving towards his dream he got a job as a janitor at BC Hydro while doing an electronics course at BCIT. Another step closer, he got a position at Bell & Howell working on ATM’s. He took a detour to Canadian Airlines efficiently organizing an area that had been losing money but organized himself out of a job. This was a blessing in disguise as he went on to form his own company, Vision Sound. The type of work he wanted to do all along. Eventually he branched out and formed a partnership , ProSound Audio, video, lighting and communications. His business took him around the world working in churches, Theatres, on cruise ships, trains and the like. After a few transitions in the company the decision was made to sell to PJS sound and he continued with PJS as an employee and mentor in Kelowna until his passing.
John had an incredible ear for music and sound and yet he never played an instrument. He was very gifted in many other ways such as calligraphy, wood burning, wood working, sketching/painting and always a fixer which could lead to a few “I will get to it” someday projects. John loved a good debate. As one DJ friend put it, “Whether or not you agreed with John, you certainly had to respect the foundation that his beliefs were built on. John did his homework. He knew both sides and had formulated his position methodically and was happy to have a discussion about that position.....especially if it differed from yours John was never one to back down from a healthy debate.” John loved the outdoors camping, hunting, fishing and always looked dashing in his leather Aussie hat.
John is greatly missed by his wife Iris, his 4 children; SJ Drake (Maya Miller), Janelle (Edward) Lambe, William (Holly) Drake and Emily (Justin) Weiman; his stepdaughter Patricia (Andrew) Szabo; his mother, Eleanor Drake, and siblings, David (Patricia), Richard (Barbara), Marianne (Karl) Iberg; mother-in-law, Gerlinde Steinigans, 7 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his father, Charles Drake (1995) and his father-in-law, Werner Steinigans (2016) and nephew, Daniel Drake (2018)
In lieu of flowers, please email your memories or thoughts to jdrakememories@gmail.com as the family will be creating a special memory book.
A private family graveside service and a Celebration of Life will be held by invite only as space is limited. Thank you to Kelowna and Vancouver General Hospitals for their exceptional care and to Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services.
Messages:
Dear Sis. Iris and family, We say "so long, dear brother" to John but not "good-bye" for we know we shall see him again and very soon. Dear Bro. John has taken his place in the Father's house of many mansions among the saints of the ages and has slipped the bonds of earth for the celestial realm of heaven where he is more alive than he has ever been, loosed from the pain, trials and tribulations of this earth forevermore. Yes, we grieve with our human hearts but our spiritual hearts rejoice. Paul and Timothy teach us in Phil. 1:20 - 23 (KJV), "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:" Yes, dear ones, Bro. John IS in that place which is far better. It will be his portion here ever after. We would comfort you all in the sure knowledge that Bro. John was Christ's child and if he could speak to us today, it would be to state the precious, eternal gospel of our Lord and Saviour, that if there be but one reading this who does not know the Saviour Bro. John knew and now knows face to face, that one come to Jesus and come now. Our time on this earth is short and we never know when we shall be summoned. We know from Scripture and the season in which we presently find ourselves that the Rapture beckons. We so look forward to being reunited with our brother-in-Christ and all those who have gone on before. Dear Sis. Iris, we will all be together with Bro. John again and very soon. Meanwhile, our prayers for comfort for you and all touched by John's transition from earth we send heavenward. John, a man of music, is now at peace and with that One Whose praises he sang while on this earth, and continues to do so while we await that sweet reunion. " Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" -- Tit. 2:13
John will be greatly missed. So glad to got to see John and Iris last year. We always enjoyed his company.
Over the past couple of years, I have had more and more correspondences with John, since he so kindly included my family in his occasions calendar. We chatted a couple of time on the phone as well. The last time I saw him in person he shared a few stories about our grandpa that I hadn’t heard. He was a funny guy, a lucky family man, and I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk with him more. My heartfelt condolences to my Drake family and to all who feel the loss here now. Rest easy, cousin.
So many great memories of John! Sad to hear of his passing but know we will see him again soon! Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and those he left behind.
Over the years I enjoyed volunteering together with John at the church. His good sense of humour and willingness to share his expertise made working with John always an experience which I and others have cherished over the years. His involvement was more than just local - he has supported many other churches over the years with their technology needs. John will truly missed. We appreciate all the sacrifices he made over the years.