Edward Jang

After a brave battle with lung cancer, Edward Robert (Bob) Jang, born December 17, 1935, passed away peacefully at the age of 85 years on January 21, 2021 at Melville Hospice in South Surrey, BC. He is survived by wife Alice, still by his side after 67 years of marriage, by his 3 daughters Laurie (van Leeuwen), Leanna (Parkes) and Shelley (Stroh) as well as brother Bill, sister Carol, 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Bob was born in Vancouver and raised in the East End of city. He met Alice and married her in 1953. Six years and three children later, they moved to Coquitlam, where the young family put down roots. Eventually Bob and Alice moved to White Rock, Langley and finally to the South Surrey area.

Bob always had a fascination with airplanes and flying, and was involved with the Air Cadets as a young man. He told many that if it were not for the fact that he was colour-blind, he would have become a pilot. Instead, Bob spent his entire working life in the wholesale carpet industry, starting as a warehouse worker, then travelling sales rep, moving up to finally becoming general manager of a large carpet distributor. He had a reputation as a kind, fun-loving boss, and many of his employees became his good friends after his retirement in 1995.

Bob was an avid sports fan. He played soccer as a teenager. As a young man growing up in the city’s East End, he was very involved in boxing. Through the sport he was able to meet some iconic professional athletes of the day. Later in his life, professional hockey and football most excited him. He could always be found in front of the TV for Monday Night Football and Saturdays for Hockey Night in Canada. He also enjoyed a good game of golf, and traveled to play at many prestigious golf courses around North America. He also enjoyed travelling, and with Alice, did many trips overseas, often on cruise ships. He had a soft spot for Hawaii, where he and Alice spent much time visiting friends and sunbathing on the beaches of Oahu.

Bob enjoyed socializing with his friends, always making an effort to be at weekly lunch gatherings with his buddies, keeping in touch and visiting those that were ill.

As was typical of his generation, Bob believed in the value of hard work and perseverance, a value he passed on to his children, along with his mantra to always to “do the right thing”. Yet he had a soft heart and a caring attitude for others. His sense of humour and outrageous jokes kept us all smiling right up to the end.

We will miss him. A Celebration of Life may be held on a future date. Ta ta and too too!