August 7, 1933 - June 17, 2025
In Loving Memory
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of John Semenoff on June 17th, 2025, at the age of 91, after a long and difficult battle with asbestosis. He is survived by Tina, his loving and devoted wife of 66 years, daughter Sandra (Leo), children Thomas (Laura), Marina, step-children, Harrison (Melinda), Alex (Angela) and Paige (Shoe), son Gary (Ali), children Ainsley (Jeremy) and Carter (Alison) and son Randy (Kathie), step-children Amy (Roxanne) and Ali (Jason), and 9 great-grandchildren with another one arriving in October. John is predeceased by his parents Harry and Helen and siblings Bill, Pete, Peggy and Francis. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
John was born in Grand Forks in a huckleberry patch while his mom was out picking berries on their farm. Growing up he gained the nickname Murdock and played many sports including baseball, basketball, and hockey. He left Grand Forks to go to Calgary Tech and took a trade in electric motor rewinding. He apprenticed with Interior Industrial Electric in Kamloops, Vancouver and Victoria, eventually settling in Kamloops.
He met Tina in Kamloops when he and his friend Lawrence Demosky went for coffee at the Bus Depot Cafe. They were married in 1958 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. John eventually opened his own rewind shop, Kamloops Electric Motor Sales and Service Ltd. in 1965, where he created a very successful business and long-lasting relationships.
John was a long-time member of the Kamloops Golf Club, Kamloops Curling Club, and Kamloops Fly Fishing Club. He loved to fish and was fondly nicknamed "The Russian Troller" by his Rock Island fishing buddies. Many large trout were caught at the family cabin at Heffley Lake. Skiing was a passion beginning at The Kamloops Ski Hill and ending at Sun Peaks. He became a member of Sun Peaks Antiques. John and Tina enjoyed many great ski and golf trips with friends, and cruises later in life. He was also an active member of Kamloops Minor Hockey supporting his sons Gary and Randy.
His farm roots eventually called to him, and in 1980 announced to Tina that he bought a 35-acre farm in Chase. A few years later, Gary bought the business from his dad and John became a full-time farmer. He grew hay and garlic, raised award winning Herefords (especially proud of his Grand Champion in 1991), and made many great friends within the community.
After 44 years in Chase, John and Tina had to sell their beloved farm and move back to Kamloops to get better health care for his increasingly debilitating lung condition. He didn't let his condition totally take over his life and many great times were spent at Blazers hockey games, going for drives, eating hot-dogs at Costco, following world events, watching old westerns on TV, reading the Sunday Globe and Mail cover to cover and underlining worthy passages, and talking finances with his children and grandchildren.
We will be forever grateful for the love, guidance and wisdom our dad passed on to all of us. The family appreciates the extraordinary care provided by Nurse Next Door, Work Safe BC, Rebel Breathing, and Interior Health's Respiratory Care.
No service by request. Donations in John's honour may be made to RIH.
Put your tractor in the barn and go in for a bowl of borscht!