Eugene Wilfred Hemsworth

It is with great sadness that we announce that Eugene Wilfred Hemsworth passed away peacefully on June 29, 2021.  Predeceased by his loving wife Joan May (nee Cooper), his parents Jessie Annie (nee Colnaghi) and Wilfred Hemsworth, and grandparents Eugene Frederick Robert and Jessie Nellie Colnaghi. He is survived by his three children Paul, Mark and Shelly; his grandchildren Jade, Jordan, Brittany, Drew, Hayley, Shane, Dylan, and Jasmine; and his great-grandchildren Catlin, Chloe, Jaxson, Jasper, Gabriel, Noah, and Leila.  Gene was born on December 12, 1932 in Isleworth, England. Gene grew up during the war and was raised by his much-admired grandfather, Pop.

As a young man, he became a member of the R.T. Royal Air Force and was stationed in Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan from 1951-53.
Upon his return in 1953, Gene married Joan and they began their family with two sons Paul and Mark. Shortly thereafter, they immigrated to Canada in 1957. The family grew with the addition of a daughter, Shelly.
Gene began to build a life for his family in Edmonton, Alberta and pursued a career as a Custom House Broker, eventually becoming the CEO and owner of his own brokerage business. He served as the President of the Canadian Custom House Brokers Association in Edmonton, and from 1980-81, as the President of the Administrative Management Society, Edmonton Chapter.
The 1980s brought a new chapter with a move to the West Coast. Gene sold his brokerage business and the family moved to British Columbia to open a recreational SCUBA dive shop called World Aquatic Sports (Aqua World).
Gene and Joan, through their generosity of spirit, raised a second family, their grandchildren Shane, Dylan and Jasmine. In 1987, the family moved to Victoria, B.C. when Gene acquired and operated the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) in Canada. He also brought MEDIC First Aid programming for diving instructors to Canada.
Through his hard work and determination, he built PADI Canada into the leading association and expanded recreational diving across Canada. He was instrumental in launching Project Aware in Canada, creating artificial underwater reefs such as M.V. G.B. Church (Sidney, B.C. 1991), Saguenay (Lunenburg, Nova Scotia in 1994), and HMCS MacKenzie (Sidney, B.C. in 1995).
Gene’s next ventures, Emergency Medical Planning Canada and Adanac College, brought MEDIC First Aid and safety training to businesses from coast to coast across Canada.
Gene and Joan became members of the Christian Life Church in Victoria, B.C. in 1990 and dedicated themselves to God and their church. Sadly, Gene’s beloved Joan passed in August of 1995.
Gene continued to operate PADI until 1997 and EMP Canada and Adanac College until 2010 when at the age of 78 he took his well-deserved retirement, and started the next chapter in his life. He poured himself into his biblical studies to achieve his goal of becoming a minister, and was ordained as a minister of the United Pentecostal Church.

Gene had a passion for God, for education and for business. He combined these passions to create an extraordinary life. Gene was a much-admired minister not only by friends and family, but by all who knew him. He was a man that had boundless energy and a sense of purpose. He was known for his indomitable spirit.
The family was always foremost for Gene and he enjoyed spending time with them, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He is on to his next chapter, reunited with the love of his life, Joan, together praising the Lord.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, July 9th, 2021 at the Cornerstone Pentecostal Church, 4274 Wilkinson Road Victoria, British Columbia. There will be a viewing at the church from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and the service will start at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society https://www.cancer.ca/

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com