Maurice Henry van Nes
Maurice was born December 14, 1950 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to Anton and Clara van Nes, the youngest with three other siblings, Patricia, Reg and Dale. He grew up in Hepburn, attended the Hepburn MB church, accepted Christ as his Saviour and was baptized as a teenager. He enjoyed singing in the church choir and participated in youth group. Throughout his years at home, he helped in the Hepburn Trading Company Store, owned by his parents, as a clerk, pick up and delivery, stocking shelves and whatever jobs his Dad found for him.
At the encouragement of his mom, he enrolled in a drafting class and found he enjoyed the challenge of drafting. He continued on to Saskatchewan Technical Institute in Moose Jaw graduating with an architectural draftsman diploma.
In high school and youth group he met Patricia Willems and they were married August 4, 1972. Jobs were hard to find until an uncle connected Maurice with a contractor in Kamloops, BC where they moved in 1973. Changes in economy forced the couple to follow construction, returning to Hepburn, Saskatchewan while working for architects in Saskatoon. While in Hepburn, Maurice took on additional duties as Mayor of Hepburn from 1979 to 1986 and served on the finance and management board at the Hepburn MB Church. Three children joined the family in Hepburn, Derek, 1977; Danelle, 1979 and Dalene 1983. During this time, Maurice was involved in the design and contract administration of banks, schools, apartments, a high rise condominium, nursing home and other commercial buildings. In 1987 Maurice decided to return to school to pursue an architectural degree in Waterloo, Ontario and the family moved there the following year. While on a work term Maurice designed and supervised the construction of the Waterloo MB Church.
Upon returning to Saskatchewan he was employed as Property Manager for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation in Prince Albert and eventually moved to Saskatoon working for Stantec Architects involved with the design and construction of a soccer centre. Another move, to be closer to the children, brought them to Manitoba where Maurice continued working for the Winnipeg Stantec Office as project manager for several public schools, a soccer centre and a funeral home before retiring in 2015. He tracked his kilometers over the years and drove over 2 million kilometers in his life time.
Maurice like to be involved in the local church and community by volunteering on finance or facility boards at church, and with Mennonite Disaster Service, both local and through the RV Program in USA in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Florida; in Canada at Ft McMurray, Alberta and around Manitoba. He was instrumental in designing and building a new tool trailer for the Manitoba MDS unit.
Favorite times spent together with Pat was travelling with truck and trailer, or by cruising and thereby visiting over 56 countries. What a wonderful and diverse world God has created. Maurice’s favorite hobbies were wood working in the garage or designing plans for prospective buildings, helping the children with projects, reading and watching Jeopardy on TV. He loved Pepsi, any kind of pie with ice cream, A&W Teen burgers, Cracker Barrel, Famous Dave and Olive Garden Restaurants. Maurice could always find a story to tell and often sprinkled them with idioms like: Up a creek without a paddle; Dime a dozen, Six of one, half a dozen of the other; All the puppies don’t bark; Ball park figure.” Maurice’s favorite hymn was “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” especially the bass lines. His favorite scripture verses were John 14:1, 2, 27. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let yours hearts be troubled, do not be afraid.”
Maurice always loved the encouraging words of Desiderata: “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons…therefore be at peace with God. And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul…With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” We will miss you Maurice but we know you are in a better place, with a healthy body, celebrating with family and friends who have gone on ahead. When we meet again…
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Maurice Henry Van Nes Thursday April 29th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba