Parcourez la nécrologie de Joseph Geleynse 2025 résidant dans la province Ontario pour le détail des funérailles

Johannis “Joe” Geleynse
June 27, 1934 – January 1, 2025
A long time resident of Chatham, Johannis “Joe” Geleynse, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at the age of 90. Born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Joe was the eldest child of the late Bartel and Wilhelmina “Mies” (neé Van Oord) Geleijnse. Married for 69 years, he is survived by his wife, Jeanne (Marie-Jeanne Pinsonneault), his children Bryan and Michele Lawton (Stan), his two grandchildren, Zach (Emma) and Alex (Taryn) and his four great-grandchildren, Charlie, Sophia, Elyse and Jack. Dear brother to Benjamin Geleynse (late Sharon), Wilhelmina Ross (late Gavin) and Wyn Geleynse (Lucretia).
Joe’s early years were formidable. As he aged, he started to share some of these formative experiences with his family. Surviving the Dutch famine, known as the Hunger Winter of 1944 – 1945, Joe was ever grateful and unrelenting in his resolve never to forget being liberated by the First Canadian Army in 1945. Eight years later, his entire family would immigrate to Canada and call this country their home. Before emigrating from the Netherlands to Canada, Joe worked on a coaster ship, the MS Luctor carrying and receiving exports and imports from Western Europe down to the Western Coast of Africa and further afield to the Caribbean. In 1952, he left his post on the MS Luctor. His parents had messaged him while the ship was moored – if you want to go to Canada with us, you need to leave this evening and come home as the plane leaves tomorrow morning. Decades later, Joe read that his ship had foundered months after he left and three crew were lost. Joe felt he skirted death again.
Once in his newly adopted country, Joe immersed himself in being a Canadian. He worked hard, learned to speak English, trained and became a Master Plumber, a vocation he enjoyed and in which he worked for over 45 years. Thankful for his apprenticeship and early work life at Bedard Plumbing and Heating in Chatham, Joe also learned how to speak English from Mrs. Bedard. He waxed her kitchen floor and she taught him English. Joe eventually left Bedard Plumbing and chose the entrepreneurial path establishing Geleynse Plumbing and Heating around 1976. In time, Joe married Jeanne, started a family, and became a Canadian citizen. He took great pride in being appointed Second Lieutenant in Her Majesty’s Canadian Armed Forces. Assuming his regimental duties with gravity and responsibility, Joe helped train local Army Cadet Corps affiliated with the Es and Kent Scottish Regiment.
Joe loved nature, his shelf of National Geographics, the Public Broadcasting Service channel and the hunting and fishing television shows of Red Fisher, Michigan Outdoors with Jerry Chiapetta and the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins. He was a voracious reader with a vast memory for history. He delighted in describing the bicycle trips to the different countries of his youth, travels on the coaster ship and his trips in Ontario and Quebec. He always looked forward to the numerous fishing trips with his family and the buddy trips to Kipawa, Quebec. In recent years, Joe loved family bbq’s and time spent with his grand and great grandchildren. Joe and Jeanne always had kind-hearted, generous and supportive neighbours around them. Their warmth and presence enriched their lives. They were, and still are, deeply appreciated and more so than they’ll never know.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the nursing and palliative care staff, hospitalists and physicians at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. They showed great kindness and compassion caring for Joe and his family.
Joe’s remains will be laid to rest at a later date. A private celebration of Joe’s remarkable life will follow.
Those wishing to make a donation are asked to consider a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer’s Society of Chatham-Kent or the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command Poppy Trust Fund supporting national veteran programs and veterans and their families. All donations are appreciated.

2025

Life Transitions Burial and Cremations Service Inc

Décès pour la Ville:Chatham, Province: Ontario

avis deces Joseph Geleynse 2025

nécrologie Joseph Geleynse 2025

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