Always kind and considerate to others, Johnan Leussink lived his life for love, to share it with family and friends, and gratefully but always graciously except theirs in return.
Scores of family members, friends and former school officials were touched by the 20-year-old's zest for live, his drive and daring, and most of all, his commitment to please others.
Tragically, Johnan's indelible mark on so many in the Sundre community is now just a memory. He passed away Sept. 20 during a work-related accident. He was 20 years-old. A funeral mass was held to celebrate Johnan's life on Sept. 24 at the Sundre Curling Rink.
“He just wanted people to love him. He did no harm to anyone,” said Johnan's mother Lilianne. “Right now I think of him when he was born, the dark blue eyes, blonde hair and dark skin. He was so loved by the nurses.”
Along with his mother, Johnan leaves behind his father, seven brothers and five sisters, and of course countless other relatives and friends.
“They all loved him and he loved them all,' said Lilianne.
Johnan was the oldest sibling, and while his sudden and tragic death has devastated the entire family, there is special pain for his next brother Clinton, who was just one year younger.
“They did everything together. They were best friends,” said Lilianne.
The mother said her son grew up as a “good little boy” and was highly intelligent. Johnan was home-schooled for nine years but attended Sundre High School in grades 11 and 12. Lilianne said her son excelled in all classes, was devoted to track and field, and loved to write. He did the latter just for himself, especially writing stories and poems of things that really mattered to him.
At the age of 16 he became one of the youngest graduates in the history of the local high school.
Johnan thought seriously of going to university to study engineering but changed his mind.
“He decided for some reason to go out on his own,” said Lilianne.
The young enterprising man formed his own company. He was sought out by pipeline companies to do trenching and ditching. They were never disappointed.
“They all said they wanted him back,” said Lilianne. “He was a good listener. They were amazed at how hard he worked.”
Johnan applied him so hard that he saved enough money to buy his own house six months ago.
In the meantime, Johnan had made a plan – pay off his house, get established, and some day get married.
Tragically, those plans will never happen.
On Sept. 20 he worked on a independent contract at the ID Oilfield Services yard. Johnan was loading a man basket onto a flatbed truck when he slipped and fell. The basket then fell on him. The young man died as a result of the accident.
Alberta Occupation Health and Safety is investigating the tragedy.
Barrie Harrison, spokesman for the provincial department, said the probe will include the weight of the basket, what happened, what procedures were in place, what safety training was made, and interviewing witnesses.
He said the probe has already begun.
“The first priority was to secure the scene to ensure nothing was disturbed,” said Harrison.
He said it could take several months before the investigation is completed.
