TRIBE, LeRoy “John”

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John Tribe passed away on July 18, 2023, at Kelowna Hospice and will be greatly missed by his wife Lynn of 55 years, daughter Nora, daughter in Law Michelle and her spouse Skylar LeBert, granddaughters Chantelle, Averie and Sera, brother Norman Tribe and sister Edna O’Flynn, and nephews and nieces.  He was predeceased by his son Michael, sister Dorothy, and parents Bert and Sarah Tribe.

John was born in 1944 in Penticton, BC, the youngest of 4 children and lived his youth on an orchard on the Middle Bench Road in Penticton where he graduated from high school.  He followed his brother to the Yukon after graduation and worked as a prospector before going to university and obtaining his Mining Engineering degree.  He met the love of his life, Lynn (Bleasdale) and in 1968 they married and moved to Merritt where he worked for Craigmont Mines.  John and Lynn moved many times as he rose up the ladder in the mining industry and ended up in Fernie, BC where he was mine manager at Byron Creek Collieries.

In 1983 they moved with their two children Michael and Nora to Colombia S.A. on a 3-year contract loaned out to Imperial Oil and Intercor in Barranquilla, Colombia.  It was quite the adventure for the whole family and John and Lynn became fluent in Spanish.  The Spanish language proved very good for his career when Byron Creek was sold and he went consulting.  John taught a Professional Supervisor course in Spanish and English in many countries, including Argentina, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Colombia, also in the USA, Australia and Indonesia and even in Mongolia. Living in Kelowna allowed him to fly out to these places while his family enjoyed the Okanagan.

While he was travelling, John took up playing the fiddle (violin) and became a central figure as President of the BC Old Time Fiddlers for many years and played out with the group at dances and shows when he was in Kelowna.  John and Lynn went to many fiddle camps for vacation and his skills improved over the years.

In 1970, John and Lynn purchased 40 acres of wilderness near Bridesville, BC and every year they would spend a vacation exploring the area and even built a cabin.  The cabin became John’s favourite place to be, especially when he purchased a tractor.  There were always things to do at the cabin and they spent as much time as possible there in the summer months.

John was diagnosed with brain tumours in January 2023 and he bravely had surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, but the cancer was too aggressive to beat and he succumbed to it on July 18th, 2023.  He will be remembered fondly by all his family and friends who are thankful that his suffering has ended.

There will be a reception and tea on Monday, July 24, 2023, at 2:00 PM in the Family Centre in Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Rd, Kelowna, BC.

Memorial donations can be made to Central Okanagan Hospice House, or to Branch 7 of BC Old Time Fiddlers by email to kelownaoldtimefiddlers@gmail.com.

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Service Details

The service for TRIBE, LeRoy “John” is scheduled for Monday, July 24, 2023, at 2:00 PM. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Rd, Kelowna, BC, in the Family Centre

2020 Springfield Rd, Kelowna, BC

Phone:

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Special Requests:

None.

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