Kenneth Hill

Kenneth Mersim Hill departed this life to be with his Lord and Saviour on August 19, 2025 in Surrey, British Columbia. 

Ken (Dad) was born March 24, 1940 in Brantford, Ontario and grew up in Riverside and in St. Clair Beach, near Windsor, Ontario on the shores of Pike Creek where Dad skated, fished, and the family boated.

During high school, Dad was a member of the Boy Scouts and attained the highest rank of Queen Scout. Dad could tie knots like no one's business and passed along his outdoor skills (birch bark can burn when wet!) and love of nature to the family during our many canoe camping trips in the Muskoka region of Ontario.

After high school Dad attended Western Ontario Institute of Technology (the first graduating class of that school), studied chemical technology, graduated in 1961 and was hired (barely!) by Imperial Oil Research in Sarnia, Ontario; a fulfilling, challenging, career that lasted 30 years and was full of opportunities for Dad to apply his inquisitive mind and creative approach to problem solving. He was awarded a number of “Coin Your Ideas” for innovations that saved the company money and made operations more efficient, including a trip to the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal for his work on the Formula 2000 car that Imperial Oil sponsored. The capstone of Dad’s career was turning around the efficiency of lube oil blending operations at the Sarnia and Edmonton refineries, saving the company hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, and earning him recognition from head office in Toronto and a promotion.

In May 1962, Dad’s best high school friend, Lee Stevenson, mentioned a girl named Susan, and I’ll let Dad take over the story from here:  

“Can you take her to her prom?”  I did not know this girl and, besides that, I did not know how to dance.  Nevertheless, I said that I would.  I called her and arranged to meet her the next weekend, one week prior to the prom.  I drove to her farm in my 1961 Meteor Montcalm, walked up to the door and said “Hi.  My name is Ken.  I’ve come to meet Susan.”  We went out for a drive, to a movie, and for something to eat.  The next weekend I took her to her graduation prom at Tilbury District High School and we never stopped seeing each other after that.  That was the start, about 63 years ago, and our wonderful relationship includes 61 years of a marriage that we will celebrate this October 10, 2025. 

Dad and Mom got involved with Peoples Church in Wyoming, Ontario in 1966 and had 34 years of deep relationships and ministry with that community of believers.

In 2000 Mom and Dad left that church community, their longtime friends and neighbours, and sold their mortgage-free house to move with Kerry to British Columbia to be closer (let’s be honest here!) to their grandsons.  It wasn’t an easy move that involved downsizing, a garage sale, a mortgage in BC, and building new relationships, but Mom and Dad will say that they don’t regret it for a minute. It’s been wonderful having the family together on the west coast and Dad was an enthusiastic Gramps, never missing a school assembly, lacrosse or soccer game, or listening to Gideon broadcast a game. He loved being a Gramps and was invested and involved in his grandson's lives.

Dad took early retirement from Imperial Oil in 1991 at age 51 and through belt-tightening, faith, and never stopping their tithing, Mom and Dad made it work on savings and Dad’s severance package until his pension kicked in four years later. Dad had the privilege of being retired for more years than he worked.

After retiring, Dad taught himself computer database programming which combined his gifts of curiosity and innovation. Dad formed HISTec (His Technology) and started a ministry building software at no cost for organizations such as Forest Cliff Camp, Peoples Church and other churches in Ontario, Cedar Grove Baptist Church and even the City of Port Coquitlam in British Columbia.

Dad was a faithful Jesus follower, and his adult life was characterized by ministry and Christian service, either through his computer or through personal relationships.  Dad was actively involved in Youth For Christ, Christian Service Brigade and the Peoples Church elder board in Ontario and Freedom Session in British Columbia. Dad mentored and encouraged countless men in their walk with God and he and Mom opened their home to hitchhikers, men being released from jail and anyone else needing support and a roof over their heads.

For over 40 years Dad spent time everyday reading Scripture, reflecting, praying, and listening to God. He was a prayer warrior and whether you were family, a man that Dad was encouraging, or anybody else that God laid on his heart, Dad spent time on his knees interceding for you.

Twenty years ago, Dad asked himself “Who am I” and wrote in his journal:

This became his Life Mission Statement and it defined his life, even before he wrote those words.

Dad started writing his life story in 2017 and he entitled it “God’s Grace Upon Grace”. I’ll let Dad have the last word: 

My Life’s Story”, is my reminder of “God’s Grace Upon Grace” to me and of God’s power and protection in my life. As I have been writing this journal, I have thought “Wow!  That was God’s grace!”  As I was living those events I likely never thought of them as being a manifestation of God’s grace, but I certainly do now. 

Dad is predeceased by his parents, Stanley and Edith and brother Glen (Cecilia) and is survived by a brother, Gary (Ida).

Dad is lovingly remembered by the love of his life Susan, children Scott (Nancy) and Kerry (Lawrence and Jon, Atsuko and Solana)), grandsons Jonas (Cristine) and Gideon (Jasmine), and great grandsons Sawyer and Silas.

We love you Ken/Dad/Gramps!

Please join the family for visitation on Thursday Aug 28 from 2-4 PM at Alternatives, 3070 275A Street, Aldergrove and for a Celebration of Ken’s Life on Saturday, October 4 at 2 PM at the Oasis, Elim Village Fleetwood, 9025 160 Street, Surrey.

The Celebration of Life has been livestreamed and you can find it by clicking HERE.

Sympathies may be expressed by a donation to the Scott Hill Fishing Fund, or your local food bank.