JOHN “BJ” “Johnny” WADSLEY BAINS of Nobleford, Alberta passed away peacefully with family surrounding him in his last hours on November 16, 2020, at the age of 74. John was born in Lethbridge on June 12, 1946, and grew up in the town of Nobleford. 

John is survived by his cherished wife, Colleen Bains; his daughter Samantha (Damon) Postman of Nobleford; and his sons John Hunter of Calgary and Russal Hunter of Lethbridge. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren Tyler (Rachel) Postman, Madison Hunter (Kurtis Krall), Riley Postman (Julia McCrae), Ashley Postman, Claudia Hunter and Sebastian Krieger.

In his early years, John was a keen learner, he loved math, sciences and was known for his award-winning penmanship and spelling. He and Charles Noble had a long-standing rivalry on who could master a new word from the dictionary each day.

John was an electrician by trade and worked many years at the Noble Plant until its closure. He then went on to work in Fort McMurray's oil refinery plants as an electrical foreman and later, Superintendent until his retirement.

He married his sweetheart Colleen Hunter (née Dietzen) on April 14th, 1988, and moved to Nobleford where they settled into the community, finished raising their family and spent their days loving on their grandchildren.

He will be remembered for his love of fishing, camping, Scouts Canada leadership, curling, golfing, woodworking, photography, travelling, visiting family in Abbotsford/ Mission, British Columbia and, most of all, his love for travelling to Mexico…. Especially to Mazatlán, eating at the restaurant "Fat Fish" and deep-sea fishing there. He deeply loved all of his children and grandchildren entirely with his heart, offering them his time, knowledge, travel and so much more. He was a very proud father and grandpa. 

John was predeceased by his mother Vernice (née Wylie) in 1946, his brother George who died in a drowning accident in 1957, his father William “Cecil” Bains, and his mom (aunt) Lillian Plomp, who raised him as her own son when his mom died during childbirth.

John will be cremated. Then followed by an invite-only celebration of life service. Family and friends whose lives John touched are invited to send condolences to Colleen at Box 217, Nobleford, AB T0L 1S0 to reminisce, grieve and support each other. A caring gentle man, John will be missed deeply by his family and friends.