Jeff was born in Duncan on July 19, 1964. Jeff attended Maple Bay Elementary school, and graduated from Chemainus High School in 1982, living most of those years in Crofton. Jeff was a very accomplished soccer player, enjoyed dirt biking, fishing, hunting, boating, camping and in general was a real outdoorsman. Spending time with his family was always Jeff’s number one priority. He had a tremendous love and devotion for his parents Carole and Terry Grouhel, and was an extremely loving person from a very young age, always looking out for the underdog. All who knew Jeff say that he always had a jovial, kind, loving and gentle spirit. In 1986 Jeff began working at Weyerhaeuser’s Chemainus Sawmill where he remained employed for approximately 18 years until his death. Jeff was a sawyer at the mill and, by all accounts, was a wonderful employee and co-worker loved and respected by all of his fellow employees. Jeff loved his job and was always a positive influence at his place of work and is very sorely missed. Jeff’s adult family life began when he met the woman of his dreams Christina in Victoria in 1989. It was love at first site and, on August 18, 1990, Jeff and Christina were married in Duncan at St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Jeff and Christina had an exemplary married life and were an example to all of their friends and family of deep commitment to each other, always putting each other first. After several failed pregnancies, Jeff sat devotedly at Christina’s bedside for 3 solid months while in hospital until the joyous day when the Grouhel’s were blessed with the birth of a healthy baby boy, little Jordan Jeffrey one year ago March. Jeff had a very strong faith in Jesus Christ that, no matter what happened, he knew he was being taken care of through all of the trials of his last days. Jeff himself was an example of Jesus’ love in the ways he conducted himself in daily life. He was an extremely compassionate and selfless man who never said a bad word against anyone. Jeff exhibited this same devotion to his coworkers and close friends. Jeff is survived by the love of his life Christina (nee Challender), son Jordon, mother Carole Grouhel, brother Steven (Christine) Grouhel, niece McKenzie Grouhel, mother & father-in-law Evelyn and Jerry Challender, brother-in-law Peter Challender, niece Olexis Challender and nephew Skyler Challender, grandmother Helen Painter, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Jeff is predeceased by his father Terry Grouhel, uncle Gary Grouhel, father-in-law Jerry Challender, grandparents Clement and Pauline Grouhel, and grandfather Lenard Painter. Jeff was loved by many, many people. He battled cancer with tremendous courage. We all love you Jeff and will miss you very dearly. Christina and Jordan would like to thank Dr. Broere. Dr. Anderson, Dr. Pewarchuk, Ladysmith Pallitive Care Nursing Team, employees & management of Chemainus Sawmill, Pastor and Mrs. Dynna, the Women’s Auxillary at Bethel Tabernacle church, the Bethel Tabernacle congregation for all of their prayers, family, and friends, the Chemainus Rotary Club, Chemainus Volunteer Firemen, neighbors and the whole community of Chemainus who rallied together in support of them.
A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held at Bethel Tabernacle Church in Ladysmith on Mon. Nov. 22 at 1:00 pm. The Grouhel’s gratefully decline flowers in lieu of donations to an education fund for little Jordon. Donations can be made at the C.I.B.C. , 9760 Willow Street in Chemainus to the Grouhel Trust Account (or phone 246-3257).