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JOHANNE (HANS) DONKERSLOOT
Date of Passing: Dec 27, 2019
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or Memory
JOHANNES (HANS) DONKERSLOOT
He is survived by his wife Willy of 66 years; and his children, Anthony (Lily), David (Ann), Randy (Cynthia), Marilyn (Jim), Ken (Mona) and Tim (Kelly); along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Hans was born in 1928 in Rotterdam, Holland, and moved to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, in 1953 where he married his devoted wife who had arrived a couple months after him. He was active with his large family and loved camping with them and all his grandchildren. He had a deep devotion for his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and served faithfully in his local church. Hans retired from a lengthy career as Examiner of Surveyors and went on to enjoy many years of volunteer service. He loved to paint beautiful artwork for his family and others in the community.
A memorial service will be held at Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church, 500 Lagimodiere Blvd., on Friday, January 3, 2020, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 28, 2019
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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Dear family—Willy, and children and grandnieces and nephews. So many things have happened when your husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather lived, I only knew him for about seventy years of that, but heard many stories from his brother Ton. Ton is four years younger than Hans, three years younger than Ans. Ton has Alzheimer’s and thus has forgotten much, but every day, he asks me: “Is my brother still alive?” Sadly now I have to tell him: “No, he died last week.” He then invariably adds: “He was such a good brother to me.” Hans’s family was tight knit often helping each other because their mother was mentally ill, and that put a heavy load on them all. Hans was a leader, then. He also played a large part in the youth group from our church in Rotterdam, I used to look up to him as a teen-ager. When we decided to immigrate to Canada since their was scarce living accommodation in Rotterdam after the war, he sent several dozens of letters to prospective employers in Canada. At first Hans and Willy went to Alberta, where Ton joined them in Lethbridge, but soon they moved to Brandon and then to Winnipeg, where thy lived a large part of their life. Ton and I also lived there for several years. In those early married years we were very close to each other, we depended on one another to help us to re-establish as Canadians. Both Habs and Willy were good to us, they were the only ones whom we knew at our wedding and they lent us their car for a honeymoon in Riding Mountain National Park. After that we spent many Christmases together, as you will remember our get-togethers in the Whiteshell Park. Hans and Willy always had lots of friends, and I’m sure that they still have, although they changed communities from time to time. I would like to be with you at a time like this, but it is not possible for the both of us, I hope that Paul is able to join you and bring our condolences from the family here. I won’t write any more, but we still have so many memories of Hans, with love from brother, Ton, and sister-in-law Catharina Donkersloot. - Posted by: Catherina Donkersloot (Sister in law) on: Jan 03, 2020
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So sorry for your loss. My thought and prayers are with you - Posted by: Sheena Fletcher (Old neighbor) on: Dec 28, 2019
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Condolences from the Jason family. Very sorry for your loss. - Posted by: Andrew (Lake neighbour ) on: Dec 28, 2019