Jack Van Nes passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, December 10, 2020. He was born in Leusden, Holland, on January 30, 1933.
After living through the Second World War and seeing the devastation of Holland, Jack realized there was no future there for him.
In 1951, at the age of 18, his employer (The De Groots) were immigrating to Canada. They asked him if he wanted to immigrate with them. Without hesitation he said “Yes.” Thus, began his dream to begin farming. His first years in Canada were spent working on various farms in the Kinkora and Kitchener areas. In letters back to his family in Holland Jack talked about how good the food is and how much food there was. Within a few years the rest of his family followed him to Canada.
Then he began working for Pounder Brothers Construction. Some of the buildings he worked on were: Victoria Grey and Trust Building, Knox Presbyterian Church, Stratford General Hospital, and the Stratford Festival Theatre. By 1958 Jack had met the woman he would marry, Teresa Vernooy, and he purchased his first farm in St. Mary’s. Within a few years they moved to Innerkip and then eventually ended up settling on a farm outside of Stratford. Although not a fan of theatre he named his farm operation “Festival Acres” because the wages he earned building the Festival Theatre allowed him to purchase his first farm.
Although he had limited formal education, Jack had purpose, vision and the work ethic to fulfill his goals. His expectations were very high of himself and of others. Because of these expectations he was very demanding and overbearing and not an easy man to work for.
Jack loved improving farms by picking stones, tiling, removing old fence bottoms and having big brush fires. As one of his neighbours said, “Jack cleaned up more farms than the pioneers.”
Jack’s character showed through as he worked to recuperate from a massive heart attack. A few years later at the age of 69 Jack spent months at Parkwood Hospital learning to walk again after breaking his neck falling through a barn roof.
Jack was not only about farming but also loved social conversations, meeting new people and dancing on Saturday nights with Teresa at various dance venues. Our family was also fortunate to travel with Jack back to Holland, Normandy Beach, Vimy Ridge and numerous German and Canadian war cemeteries which reinforced Jack’s appreciation of living in Canada. It also left our family with great memories.
Jack served for a limited time as a committee man for the Perth County Pork Producers Association. But Jack soon realized that his strength was in working and not in meetings. In 2018 Jack was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Rotary Club of Stratford for his financial donations throughout Perth County.
Our last two weeks bringing Dad home to his farm was truly a blessing for him and for us. We all had a final opportunity to visit with Dad and a chance to see that “wink of the eye” which he would often give.
His final departure from his farm was on December 10. It was a beautiful, sunny winter day which he would have loved.
Jack was predeceased by his beloved wife Teresa in 2015. They were married on April 4, 1959. Together they raised three children: Jim (Ruby), John (Marg), Pat (Ron). Opa to Ryan (Crystal), Sarah, Sean (Brittany), Amy, Jacob, Tony, Vivianna, Isabella (Jay), Lisa (Allan), Michael, Nick, Scott (Christie), Erin (Kyle) and Mark. Great Opa to Jayden, Tayia, Jack, Max, Joey, Clayton, Penny, Ava, Arianna, Austin, Hailey, Logan, Katelyn, Brooklyn, Nelson and Henry.
Dear brother to Harry Van Nes (Marijke). Brother in-law to Betty Van Nes, Nick Vernooy (Betty), Ted De Jeu (Annie), John Vernooy (Nelly), Corrie Vink (Bill), Bill Vernooy (Pat), Linda Vernooy, Betsy Coleman (Terry), Joe Vernooy (Joze), Jim Vernooy. He was predeceased by his parents Jacob and Matilda (Blom) Van Nes and his father and mother-in-law John and Cornelia (Blonk) Vernooy. He was also predeceased by his siblings and their spouses: Rita Baker (Fred), Theo Van Nes (Regina), Alice Van Dyk (Jim), Bill Van Nes (Margaret), Henk Van Nes. Predeceased by in-laws: Anne Van Gerwen (Harry), Paul Vernooy, Mary De Jeu, Mary Vernooy, Peter Vernooy, and Cora Vernooy.
He is survived by many nieces, nephews and their families.
A visitation line to pay respects will be held on Monday, December 14, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Church, 50 Well Street, Stratford, from 6 to 8 pm. Masks are mandatory and numbers of people allowed through the church at any given time will be limited. Please be prepared to stand outdoors.
A private Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, December 15th.
Donations in Jack’s memory would be appreciated and may be made to the Stratford General Hospital Foundation directly at www.sghfoundation.org or through the James A. Rutherford Funeral Home website, or to a charity of one’s choice by calling the funeral home at 519-271-5062.
Rest in peace you “Professional Farmer.”
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Thursday December 10th 2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Jacobus Jack Johannes Van Nes Thursday December 10th 2020..
Rutherford Cremation and Funeral Services
Décès pour la Ville:STRATFORD, Province: Ontario