Fred Ensing

Fred's Life Story

On a cold, wintery, evening in Brandon Manitoba, Fred was born to Jan (John) and Jantje (Jean) Ensing. He joined siblings John and Marlene. A year later, they returned to the Lower Mainland, where Norm and Rob completed their family. His early years were spent in Burnaby, where his family enjoyed spending time with the other Ensing family, (Uncle Gerry and Aunt Sophie and their children), their only relatives living in Canada. In 1969, they moved to their Surrey home, on a hill overlooking the Fraser River.

Fred’s teenage years were spent taming their acreage, and getting a head start on his mechanical skills in a converted garage on their property. His mechanic father helped him learn the tools of the trade. Fred and brother John spent a lot of time together, working on cars, repairing the cars of community members, and exploring the Lower Mainland on their bikes. During his teenage years, his jobs included pumping gas and cleaning the floors in a sawmill. After high school he spent a year in construction. In 1974, he took a summer job at Bethesda as a counsellor at a day camp for special needs children. Here, he met another counsellor, Elizabeth Bolt. It was the start of a good friendship, and three years later, led to a romantic relationship. They married in 1980, and later welcomed Erin (1984) and Leah (1987) to their family.

Fred was a patient and loving father, always making time for his daughters. The family spent a lot of time outdoors, going for walks, hikes, and bike rides. The beach was a favourite family outing, spending time searching out interesting creatures in tidal pools, looking for hermit crabs, and trying to identify various species of sea life. When someone in the family needed lifting up, a trip to the beach took care of what ailed them. That still applies today. Fred was a very handy person and could repair anything that needed fixing. The rest of the family took for granted that he could fix everything, whether it was mechanical, electrical, wooden or other. He had a very creative, artistic bent. He enjoyed making changes to existing items, tweaking things to make them just a little bit better, or more interesting. He designed some unique pieces of art which are one-of-a-kind pieces.

When his three granddaughters came on the scene, Fred was in his element once again. Another generation to introduce to the wonders of nature through local hikes and beach walks. He found used bikes at the side of the road and fixed them up. He made sure there was a bike that was the right size for each girl, adjusting for size as they grew older. He enjoyed spending time with them talking, making puzzles, playing games, and going for coffee. Well, hot chocolate for the kids.

In his later years, he kept a notebook for when he came across interesting ideas in articles, websites, or conversations. He would jot down reminders, record memorable quotes, and list titles of books that he wanted to read. His entries are a wonderful, eclectic mix of the mundane and the profound, glimpses into Fred’s always curious and caring thoughts. His death came as a shock. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.