OBITUARY – JONN R. VERKERK
Jonn Verkerk passed away on February 12, 2021. He is survived by his common law wife Janice, his daughter, Loesha and his sons Damien, Shawn, Bryan and Edwin, their spouses, grandchildren and his niece Anne and spouse Rene, in The Netherlands.
Jonn was born on April 26, 1933 in The Hague in the Netherlands. He lived with his parents and brother, Dick, and they all survived five years of Nazi occupation during World War II. After the war Jonn became an apprentice mechanic and worked for a local automotive garage.
In 1953 Jonn sailed from Rotterdam to Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the Sibajak (previously a troop ship). From there he travelled by train to Winnipeg where he was met by a family friend and driven to Flin Flon in northern Manitoba. Jonn then found employment as an automotive mechanic at Uptown Motors and lived in Flin Flon for 14 years. Jonn played soccer on the Flin Flon Kickers team and went to all the home games of the Flin Flon Bombers hockey team.
Jonn later left Flin Flon and lived in various towns in Saskatchewan before moving to Edmonton in 1972. He worked for Koch Mercury on the Calgary Trail and in 1980 went to work for the City of Edmonton as a Light and Heavy Duty Mechanic. He retired in 2001 but was asked to return in 2003 to work at the Kennedale Shop and then later transferred to the Westend Shop and retired in 2012.
Jonn was an avid HAM radio operator, photographer and wine maker. He loved many genres of music such as Western, Latin, Jamaican, Rock and Roll, and European, with Andre Rieu being one of his favourites. He travelled extensively to Australia, Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Jonn will be missed by us all and will be forever in our hearts.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de John Rhombsley Verkerk April 26 1933 February 12 2021..
Park Place Funeral Home Chapel & Crematorium Ltd
Décès pour la Ville: Sherwood Park, Province: Alberta