Hendricus Johannes Albertus "Hans" Sanou

March 3, 1947 - May 27, 2019
Hans passed away at home in the care of his loving wife, Margaret, on May 27 after a short but courageous battle with cancer. Hans (Hendricus Johannes Albertus) was born in Amsterdam to Catarina Anna Maria (Toos) van den Berg and Hendricus Johannes
Albertus (Henk) Sanou, the second of their seven children. Hans' passion as a child and into adulthood was soccer and his team was Ajax. Hans immigrated to Canada in 1966 at age 19 and started working at Alcan in January 1967. He worked in a number of locations in the smelter including the pot lines, the warehouse and casting. He then did an apprenticeship in pipe fitting and worked for the rest of his career in the pipe shop where he later became foreman. He was involved with the union in various capacities in the late 70s and in the 80s and especially enjoyed being an editor of the Hot Line and being on the bargaining team. Hans was fortunate to get an early retirement package at age 53 and enjoyed 19 years of retirement in Kitimat. In recent years, he was a member of the LNG Canada Community Advisory Group. Hans was known for his sense of humour and his April Fools jokes. He was also a caring friend who was a good listener to friends with troubles on their mind.
Hans was predeceased by his parents, his daughter, Dawn, his sister, Toos, and his brother, Jos. He is survived and sadly missed in Kitimat by his wife of twenty-five years, Margaret, in Kelowna by his granddaughter, Jessica, and son-in-law, Scott, in North Vancouver by his granddaughter, Cathrine, in The Netherlands by his sister, Nel (Bram), his brothers, Lex (Manon) and Paul (Joeska), and his sister-in-law, Loes (late Jos), and in Spain by his sister, Hanneke (Geoff). He is also survived by three nieces and two nephews in The Netherlands, by his two step-children from his first marriage, Kelly (Tim) Bartlett in Cranbrook and Noel (Korrina) Jervis in Alberta, and by his mother-in-law, Lois Chisholm, in Kamloops, as well as Margaret's five siblings and nieces and nephews throughout BC. Furthermore, Hans is missed by his many friends in Kitimat, on Vancouver Island, in the Okanagan, New Brunswick, and Britain. Lastly, he is greatly missed by his ten pound Jack Russell Terrier, Neon.
A celebration of Hans' life will be held in the upstairs hall of Branch 250 of the Royal Canadian Legion on Sunday, July 7, 2019 at 2 pm. Please join us and shares stories about the rascal. If possible, please wear something orange, the Dutch national colour. Don't have something orange? Come anyway.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Hans' name to the Kitimat General Hospital Foundation. Margaret would like to thank the many friends, neighbours, family members and medical staff who have given her so much support and kindness at this difficult time.