Obituary of John Valentine Cross

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https://video.ibm.com/embed/recorded/129309786

 

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Slideshow

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JOHN  V. CROSS

C.M., S.O.M.

1940  -  2021

John died peacefully at home on January 10, 2021, after a short illness precipitated by a fall. 

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife Lorna Callbeck-Cross, son Fraser and daughter Roberta Cross, stepdaughters Madison and Cassie (Kyler) Josephson.  As well as brothers and sisters-in-law Peggy Cross, Bev Carr, Kevin (Kenda) Callbeck, Sandi (Devin) Janzen; father and mother-in-law Art and Janie Callbeck; special nieces and nephews Paul (Debbie) and Philip (Wendy) Mudie, Geoffrey (Sylvia) and John-Martin (Trish) Cross, Kathren (Colin) Pickering, Cam and Derek Hart, Andrea Carr; many other great nieces and nephews and their families; grandchildren Travis (mother Tanya), Taylor (Shelby), Ashlie, Nathan, Rebecca (Mitch), Brandon (Maggie) and Zach (Kaley), their mother Eroca, and great grandchildren Nicholas, Benjamin, Gabriel and Tanner. Dearest friends Bud and Vivian Walker, and Daphne and Jessa Kemp.  Friends from the Tempests, Labatt’s, Philom Bios, OTL, POS, Fellowship families, the community and countless others.

John Valentine’s life began February 14th, 1940 at Budworth, Cheshire, England, as the son of Olive & Jack Cross and brother to Colin & Hilda. Just after the war, Jack secured a new job in Wales at the ICI works in Barry, and so he, Olive & John moved to Glamorgan.  However, John loved working with his big brother on the farm and so spent his school summer holidays with Colin and sister-in-law Peggy back in Cheshire and this would come to be a big influence throughout his career.

In those early years John also developed a love of music.  He was an avid musician and began playing the clarinet then moving to the saxophone – learning the love of music from his teacher, Charles Gill.

John earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering from Bradford Institute of Technology (UK) in 1963, and he was brave enough to take up the challenge of continuing his studies in another country and he left England with $84 in his pocket – and as John would say, ‘I still have $84’. It was a good decision; Canada was good to John, and he was good for Canada and this was recognition culminated in the honour of Member  of the Order of Canada and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Throughout his career John earned many industry awards and public recognition of his achievements and contributions to agriculture.

He continued with his studies and gained a Master of Engineering Science at the University of Western Ontario in 1965 after which he joined John Labatt Ltd. in London Ontario as a research scientist, later becoming the administrator of the food research and development department.

But it was not all work; John and his saxophone were asked to join The Tempests having arrived from the UK knowing all the Beatles songs. They made an LP, and he paid his way through University with the money he made from playing gigs with the band. While in Ontario, he met his beloved Charlotte, they were married, and raised two children, Fraser and Roberta. The family moved west in 1975 where John became the first Executive Director for an upstart agriculture innovation research and development organization, POS Pilot Plant Corporation.  John often remarked that Saskatchewan was a land of abundant opportunity and brilliant entrepreneurs and is truly God’s country. 

In 1980, along with two partners, he co-founded one of Saskatchewan’s earliest biotechnology companies, Philom Bios.  They developed a new category of agricultural inputs – inoculants, which allowed farmers to increase productivity without chemicals.  This development was dear to his heart because his brother’s health was seriously harmed by the chemicals used on farms.  The company eventually sold to Novozymes and those made-in-Saskatchewan innovations became a global sensation to improve the lives of farmers everywhere.

In 2009, John met Lorna and again was brave enough to grasp another opportunity that had been presented to him.  They met through St. Paul’s Hospital, which already held a special place in John’s heart and was the hospital that cared for him after his fall in mid-December 2020.

Having been retired, or as John would say ‘rewired’, he served on many boards; business, charities and not-for-profit organizations; he gave generously of his time, energy, intelligence and wisdom.

He was an intelligent man who was blessed with the gift of keeping things simple and clear.  He followed his passion and love of agriculture throughout his life. He believed in mentorship; not long ago, John was speaking to a group of grade 8 science students, at the beginning of the class he asked them, ‘Who wants to change the world?’  The hands shot up with enthusiasm and John smiled!

John’s family and friends will always remember John as a family man, passionate innovator, and all-consuming optimist for an ever-promised exciting future.  John made everyone better.  He was clear about the gift of life and believed in being useful to the god of one’s own understanding.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

John will be missed by his family and many friends at home and around the world.

In lieu of flowers, you are invited to make a memorial donation to the St. Paul’s Hospital Healing Arts Program (www.sphfoundation.org), or to the charity of your choice.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 12:00 (Saskatoon CST). Due to the current gathering restrictions all, far and wide, are  invited to join, participate and take part by connecting to the live stream broadcast.