It is with great sadness that we announce the death of JERRY JOHN VOPICKA on Sept. 3, 2011 at the age of 60. Jerry was born and raised in Fort St. John and was a proud 1st generation Canadian and
pioneer of the North Peace Country and Pineview area. Sadly gone to early.

Jerry attended the North Pine School before heading to North Peace Secondary and Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek for mechanics. He helped tirelessly on the family farm before allergies and the lure of town life lured him to Fort St. John.

In his youth he participated in 4-H, Future Farmers, Square dancing and was one of the proud 4 who attended the Pepsi Cola Jr. Curling championships.

Jerry had the rare gift of loving music and being able to play the organ by ear or any other instrument that he tackled. He loved to sing and was once in a band as vocalist. We all remember and appreciate his rendition of Green Green Grass of Home as one of his favorites.

Jerry met Linda in 1970 and they were married in April 1973. They were very active in the local car club rallying, hillclimbing or ice racing and curling. They traveled all over to attend the different
activities and had great fun and comraderie.

In Sept. 1977 Shane Joseph joined the family, along with Reilly Vernon in June of 1979. Kori-Ann Isabel joined in Oct. 1983. He took such pride in the kids not pushing to hard but asking only that they were good citizens before the marks of A or B. The family complete then started all the activities of raising a family. Speed skating seemed a natural way to get 3 children skating at the same time! There started the long and fun association with speed skating, Jerry joined the kids to learn how to skate and ended up being the coach of the senior group for 12 years. Jerry’s pride was always in the skaters “personal bests” ...the championships the club won for short track or long track were icing on the cake. His skaters success was his pride and joy and he traveled the country to be with his “kids” at their championships often coaching many other BC athletes on his mission. He was named Coach of the Year for British Columbia Speed Skating Association in 1998.

Jerry was an extra ordinary guy, volunteering many years of his life to the RCMP Auxillary (14 years) many of those as the gun handling trainer. He was both a Cub and Scout leader, baseball umpire ...you name it ....he was an active and enthusiastic volunteer for anything his children were involved in. We believe him to be a “Hero” for saving his little niece Serena from a terrible accident. His love of vehicles from the old red International to the Nissan 200 zx to all Nissan pickups to the grand one of his life....the Nissan Titan. He worked as a Senior Partsman for many years at Rivtow, Coneco & SMS Equipment along with Snippa’s Nissan.

Jerry was a chef extrordinaire always willing to try new tastes and flavors. From rack of lamb to bbq turkey or smoked salmon.....he was a master. He decorated every birthday cake for the kids in the theme of their choice until he mastered the layered black forest cake which he shared with many a friend or family. He was the costume guru at our house....helping each kid be exactly what they wanted for Halloween.
Jerry loved his acerage, was a jack of all trades ....could fix most anything, loved the outdoors,
woodworking, reading, camping and family holidays...a serious card player of many games along with board games where he was often champion of crokinole. He was an extraordinary husband father , brother, nephew, cousin and friend and will be sorely missed.

Jerry was predeceased by his father Joseph Vopicka in Nov. 2007, father-in-law Vernon Ferris (1998). He leaves behind his loving family: wife Linda, children Shane (Krista), Reilly (Jennette) & Kori-Ann (Dennis) Barclay and his grandson Griffin Mark Barclay, his mother Maria Vopicka his loving sisters Joan (Nelson) Kinnaird & Debbie (Wayne) Edwards. In-laws: Jacqueline Ferris, Alan (Christine) Ferris, Michael (Donna) Ferris& Jayne(Keith) Fosbery; Uncles & Aunts Vlasta Verdzak, Jerry A. Vopicka (Marie), Miro Tomasta (Lydia) & Pat Cajka numerous nieces and nephews and great niece and nephew and cousins in Canada and the Czech Republic.