John Henry Cope

“There is no night without the dawn. No winter without the spring.”

Fisherman’s Prayer

I pray that I may live to fish

until my dying day.

And when it comes to my last cast,

I then most humbly pray:

When in the Lord’s great landing net

and peacefully asleep.

That in his mercy, I be judged

big enough to keep.

John sadly passed away in the care of Leighton Hospital on 10th July 2018, aged 85 years. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by everyone who knew him.

John was born in Nantwich on 29th April 1933 to parents Frank and Irene, one of four boys. Sadly Irene died when he was three and the family initially lived with their Grandma. He went to primary school in Nantwich and senior school in Crewe.

His one and only job was working for Crewe Borough Council where he completed his apprenticeship to be a painter and decorator. It was whilst working for the council that he met his wife, Jean.

When he completed his apprenticeship he did his National Service with the Army Catering Corps, initially stationed in Lichfield before being sent to Germany. Shortly after being demobbed he married Jean at St. Michael’s Church in Crewe, in 1958. John and Jean went on to have two sons, Martin and Ashley.

John was a keen cyclist, something he passed on with great enthusiasm to Ashley. He was a member of the Crewe Clarion cycling club. In fact John was a lover of everything outdoors. He would regularly join Martin hiking in the mountains and another great love was fishing. He also enjoyed making and repairing things, paying particular attention to any projects he was working on to make sure they were right according to his standards.

After retiring, John had more time to go fishing and he continued to remain active as Branch Secretary for UCATT. He and Jean enjoyed several holidays in retirement, one particular, memorable trip was on a vintage coach tour around the UK and Europe.

Later in life John contracted the condition COPD but never let it get in the way of him carrying on and enjoying his life and spending time with his family. To everyone he was always warm, friendly and kind and was content with a life that allowed him to go fishing and be with his family who were so important to him.

John’s funeral will take place on Monday 23rd July in the Crematorium Chapel, Crewe at 11.20am, followed by cremation.

Donations in John’s memory will be gratefully received on behalf of The Lung Society.

For any further information regarding John’s funeral please contact our funeral home on 01270 584447.