Obituary of Jesse Alan Lodge

Jesse Lodge, a lifelong resident of Chetwynd, B.C., left us suddenly on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Chetwynd at the age of 34 years. Jesse Alan Lodge was born on March 17, 1983 with a mop of brown curly hair and brown eyes. He was curious, sweet, and precocious; from the time he was walking he wanted to take things apart to figure out how they worked. He learned at a very young age basic mechanics and loved to fix things. If he wasn't roaming the neighborhood, he was on the couch watching Fred Penner at the same time every morning, or he would ask someone to read him his favorite poem, Wynken, Blynken and Nod. Jesse was a prankster and was always looking for an opportunity to catch someone unsuspecting. He was also a good student and ended up skipping a grade in elementary school. Jesse loved to read when he was little, and later would read his own adventure stories or how-to books. When their family moved to their property at Wildmare, Jesse enjoyed living life as a country kid. His days were full of dirt bikes, snowmobiles, ripping up and down the road and trails on quads. There were animals to tend to, wood to haul, and chores to do. On road trips they would play "Name That Truck", where they would guess the Make and Year of the vehicles in the distance. By the age of 5, Jesse's success rate was about 99%. As Jesse got older the game changed to license plates, then eventually to music and "Name That Tune" on the radio. Jesse loved animals, especially dogs. His favorite dog that he grew up with was their little Jack Russell Terrier, Gus. He was good at training dogs and had a hand in training many over the years. Jesse had a way with bully breeds and had his pit-bull, Elsa, for a year and a half. As a man, Jesse was a jack of all trades. He worked in the Oil and Gas industry, forestry, construction, ranching and farming. He was ambitious when it came to trying something he hadn't done before. His office was a freshly cut hayfield, a sunrise view from a timber block, a riverbank, or an ancient forest. He would be away working, but he always found his way home to Chetwynd and his roots. Jesse made it just in time to see his son, James Robert William, make his debut into the world. Jesse was as proud as can be. He would always have something to say about James and he carried a photo of James in his wallet so he could see him every time he opened it. They enjoyed their father-son time and frequent quad rides together. Jesse was not a fancy guy. He didn't care about material things, he was happy if he could have a meal, a smoke, and a place to sleep. If he had money, he shared it, because he wanted everyone to have fun. He didn't plan for the future, but enjoyed each moment as it came. He wasn't deep or philosophical, but most people can say they had good conversations with Jesse over a cup of coffee or a crackling fire. He had a big heart and was always willing to help without wanting anything in return. He had a way to make work fun and was always up for adventure and shenanigans at the drop of a hat. Jesse is survived by his parents April and Kerry Barnetson, his son James, his grandmother Joy Barnetson-Walker, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Chetwynd Fellowship Baptist Church. Cheryl Bear Barnetson and Pastor Bill Evans officiated. Jesse was laid to rest with family in the Tuscoola Mountain Cemetery. Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium Celebration of Life 2:00 pm Saturday, August 12, 2017 Chetwynd Fellowship Baptist Church 4817 53 St Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada