At Seaforth Community Hospital on Monday, June 17, 2024, John W. Van Doornik of Seaforth in his 98th year. Predeceased by his beloved wife Catherine Van Doornik (May 1, 2008). John was born in Eindhoven, the Netherlands on November 13, 1926, and married Catherine van der Kallen October 18, 1955. They immigrated to Canada in April 1956 to begin a new life. He worked many full-time and casual jobs in Seaforth and Galt before they purchased their first farm in Tuckersmith Township in 1960, where they began their passion and love of farming. Retiring in 1987, they moved into Seaforth and enjoyed travelling many places near and far. He was very passionate when talking about his family, farming, and community. He could carry on a conversation with anyone about everything and anything. He had a love for life and everything about it.
Cherished father of Dorothy Medd and Russ Jackson (Bayfield), Jackie and Don Brooks (Stratford), Harold and Beth Van Doornik (Seaforth), Joanne and Dave Tilley (London), Steve Van Doornik (Seaforth).
Loving Grandfather and Opa of Christie (Brian) Little, Greg Medd (Sylvia Levy), Sarah (Mike) Van Aaken, Becky (Coleson) Forbes, Eric Van Doornik (Cassie Bissett), Shannon Tilley, Derek Tilley, Nicole (Taylor) Holmes, Ian Van Doornik, Claire Van Doornik (Robin Coleman). Great Opa to Colin; Bryson, Vanessa, Beckett; Wyatt, Emmett; Carter, Paige; Theo; Austin. He also enjoyed nine step-grandchildren, twelve great step-grandchildren, one great great step-grandchild.
Survived by sister-in-law Fien Verhoeven of the Netherlands. Predeceased by siblings Anne (Paul) Vogels of Dublin and Antoon (An) Van Doornik of the Netherlands, in addition to Catherine’s siblings and their spouses in Canada and the Netherlands.
Visitation will be held at Haskett Funeral Home, 87 Goderich Street West, SEAFORTH on Wednesday, June 19 from 5 – 8 PM. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church, 22 Victoria Street, SEAFORTH on Thursday, June 20th at 11 AM. Stream the service live or at your convenience by visiting www.facebook.com/haskettfh. Interment St. James Cemetery, Seaforth. Donations to the Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Gerry Mclaughlin
Sorry for your loss
Marian Finlayson
My deepest sympathy to all the VanDoornik families in the loss of your dad and grandpa. May all your wonderful memories comfort you at this sad time.
Gary & Ann Cronin
Dorothy, Jackie, Harold, Joanne, Steve and families. Sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. Treasure the memories!
Gary & Ann Cronin
Tom/Twyla Phillips
Dorothy and family
Thinking of you as you mourn the loss of your father and grandfather, yet celebrate a life well lived.
Tom and Twyla
Gerry & Nancy O’Reilly
To all the Van Doornik families. We are sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. I always enjoyed meeting up & having a conversation with John back in the day. You are all in our thoughts & prayers. Gerry & Nancy O’Reilly
Marj Ebel
To Beth and Harold and all the Van Doornik family ,Bill and I are thinking about you at this sad time.Hugs Bill and Marj Ebel.
Ellery Swinkels and Cohen Templeman
To Christie and the Van Doornik family,
Our condolences on the passing of your Opa John.
Ellery Swinkels and Cohen Templeman
Mary Kay Whaling
Sorry for your loss.
Joan Whyte
Sincere Condolences to the Van Doornik Family. He was a good man and gave you many happy memories.
Nick and Joan Whyte
Joy Ross
My sincere sympathy to Johns family, keep your many memories close to you, he was a very friendly man,with a great smile each time you met him, thinking of you, Joy Ross,
Helen Van Moorsel & family
Our condolences to the entire Van Doornik family.
Pam & Terry Maloney
Harold, Beth & family:
Our sincere condolences on your Dad’s passing.
Brian and Janet Keys
Our deepest sympathy to the Van Doornik family. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Joe Dorssers
Good guy gone…..sad tuckersmith lost another one…..found him alot like Steve. A good neighbour’s is rare today
Joanne and Cal Garrow
To all of John’s family
We are so sorry to hear of his passing.
Our sincere sympathy and prayers are sent to all of you
at this very sad time.
May the fun moments and memories you shared with him, stay with you forever.
Joanne and Cal Garrow
Joanne Carr
My condolences to the family. Your father lived a long, good life. I know it’s been awhile since I’ve seen him but I always remember him as a friendly man. May your memories keep him alive forever.
Joanne Carr (nee DeGroot)
Ray Mcnichol
Our condolences to the entire Van Doornik family….he will be remembered as a great family man. ³
Brian Luckhart
So sorry for your loss
Karen and Mat Wolf
Our deepest condolences to the Van Doornik family. Your Dad and Opa’s presence in your lives has left a gift for you all in your hearts and memories. May he rest in peace and be reunited with your Mom in love. Cherish your memories!
Robert and Liz Reid
Deepest Sympathy to the Van Doornik Family for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Robert and Liz Reid
Janice Culp
Harold & Beth & family
Celebrate the life of your dad, he has left you a lifetime of memories for you to cherish
Kind regards
Glen & Janice Culp
Ricki Vansteelandt
My sincere sympathy to all the Van Doornik family! John will be dearly missed but the wonderful memories will keep him close in your hearts!
Ricki Vansteelandt
Lorraine Hinz
I am so sorry to hear the loss of a great man!
I will miss our farm & trucking chats.
Maplewood won’t be the same
Josse Brouwers Opsteen
Heel veel sterkte gewenst met het verlies van jullie Pap en Opa
Alle troost en warmte gewenst en dat jullie steun vinden
In heel veel mooie dankbare herinneringen
Bruce and Sharon Wilbee
Our deepest sympathies to the Van Doornik Family.
John was a “Great Man ” He will be missed by so many .
Alex and Dymphie Veens
Our sincerest sympathy to the Van Doornik family.
Alex & Dymphie Veens.
Maria Van Mensvoort
Aan de familie van Jan van harte gecondoleerd met het overlijden. Een hele mooie leeftijd maar je wilt zon vriendelijk man niet missen . Ik was lang geleden bij hen op bezoek met Riek en Mies.
Heel veel sterkte.
Louise Miller
Dorothy and family. We are sorry to hear of John’s passing. My mother enjoyed playing cards with him. Cherish all your memories. Louise and Janet
Colleen Lowes
Van Doornik Family.
My sincere sympathy to all of you. I know the feeling of losing a Dad.
My all you memories bring you peace. He had a long & happy life.
I always loved serving your Dad his meals at Maplewood Manor. He never complained & always ate everything
Love to you all
Colleen (Murray) Lowes
Joanne Sans & Larry Ritchie
We are extremely sorry for your loss. Take comfort in knowing you have so many beautiful memories to hold onto. Let them comfort you in the days ahead.
Rose and Piet Loomans
So sorry to hear of your dads’ passing. May the great memories of him keep him close to your hearts.
Mary Margaret Kelly
What a loss in your family…he was with you a good long time. Sympathies to you all. Mary Margaret
Bill and Rowena Wallace
Our sincere sympathies to the Van Doornik family. John was a great neighbour on the farm.
Hans van Doornik
Soms is er zoveel dat we voelen, maar zo weinig dat we kunnen zeggen.
“Rust Zacht, Ome Jan”
My sincere condolences to the van Doornik Family.
Hans van Doornik
Gerda Vanden Hoven
It is never easy to say that last farewell, but may the memories of a life well lived bring a smile to your face as you find peace and comfort at this difficult time. Cor & Gerda VandenHoven
Louise Harris
My deepest condolences to the whole family, thinking of you all at this very difficult time ❤️🙏
Mary Ann & Frank Verberne
Our condolences to the entire family.
Mary Ann and Frank Verberne
Regi whyte
To all
May your memories keep your hearts happy.
Sincerely Bill and Regi whyte
Judy Jansen
VanDoornik Family – Losing your Dad, Opa is hard no matter the age. Your Dad had a long life. You will cherish the many memories you have made. Sending a big hug to all of you.
Diane Leonard
Sincerest sympathies, Dorothy and Family
Jim and Nancy Brooks
Dorothy & Russ, Jackie & Don, Harold & Beth, Joanne & Dave, Steve and families!
Heartfelt Sympathy on the loss of your dad.
Cherish your memories!
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Joanne Holland
I remember happy times at your farm where your Dad was always smiling. He was a real family man. I hope all your treasured memories help you through this difficult time. My sincere condolences to all the family members.
Mary & Ron Reynolds
Your dad’s amazing personality lives on through all of you. We will miss Christmas dinners with John discussing all sorts of different topics. He was a wonderful person to have great conversations with.
Sending you love during this difficult time.
Mary & Ron
Dianne Walkom
My deepest sympathies to the Van Doornik family. What an amazing long life he had. May good memories comfort you.
Sincerely Dianne Walkom
Marty and Janice Boudewyns and family
Our sincere condolences and remembering a truly special person we were all blessed to know
Jim and Marj Hardy
John was a wonderful man who will be missed by his family and friends. He always had time for people and ready to help out. He lived a good life and now is with his family , especially Catherine, in heaven. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time. May the many happy memories of both John and Catherine sustain you.
Marlene & Dave de Vries
Our deepest Sympathies to you All. May the comfort of friends and family be your strength now and in the days ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.💕
Brenda & Bruce Salzman
Sorry for the loss of your father. Glad our paths crossed…and can see his legacy continues to live on through each one of you.
Clifford Murray
Our deepest sympathies to you all in the loss of you father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be sorely missed. Love & Prayers, Cliff & Penny Murray
Helen & Brian
To John’s entire family we send our heartfelt condolences at this sad time. His zest for life was remarkable and inspiring. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.
Sending hugs to each of you. From Brian and Helen Oldfield, the Southgate family and Fred Tilley
Ken & Anne Murray
Please accept our heartfelt condolences. You are in our thoughts and prayers
Irene Nicholson
Deepest sympathies in tour loss.
Pat and Maryann Feeney
To the Van Doornik family. Sorry to hear about Johns passing. Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Cindy Shaddock
Sarah and Mike and family
So sorry for your loss. My family is sending heartfelt hugs and prayers your way.
Clifford Murray
We extend our sincere condolences to you, Dorothy and your family, at the loss of your beloved father.
Sincerely, Cliff & Penny
Tom and Dawn Papple
Sending our deepest sympathy to the family of our old neighbour.
John certainly lived a good life and has left you with wonderful memories.
Tom and Dawn Papple
Betty Little
Opa’s are special people and OPA John was no exception. Many fond memories of euchre, coffee, cookies and special celebrations.
Lot’s of love to Dorothy, Christie, Greg and the Van Doornik Family
Connie & Mike Marion
Sorry to hear about dad! He sure did have a great life and lots of great memories. Hugs and prayers to all in your family.
Marian and John
We offer our condolences on the passing of your Dad and Opa. He will be missed but what a great life he had!
Terry and Ann Kramers
To all the Van Doornik families, we are so sorry to hear of John’s passing. He was a very nice person and always nice to talk to. Our thoughts are with you at this sad and difficult time. He will be missed by you all.
Mary and Richard
Deepest Sympathy to the Van Doornik Family for your loss. Thoughts and Prayers
Richard and Mary Verberne
Hilrita Arts
Sorry to hear of John’s passing.
May your memories keep him forever near.
Thinking of you all at this sad time.
John and Hilrita ARTS
Reiny Freiter
Harold and Beth, Steve and Families
Sorry for the loss of your Dad and Grandpa. Your dad was a truly amazing individual. He was one of the first customers I met when I first came to Seaforth and we had some interesting conversations over the years even after his retirement. Cherish the memories.
Reiny
Lisa Honchar
Heartfelt sympathy to the VanDoornik Family at this difficult time.
Take comfort in knowing that you are in our thoughts.
Sending you strength, love and hugs ~ Lisa and Dave Honchar
Marcel van Mensvoort
Dorothy, Jackie, Harold, Joanne, Steve. Our sincere condolences 💐 .
Will remember uncle John as a warm person, with a lot of interest in other people. Wish you lots strength missing him.
Mary Anne McNichol
What a great long life your father had. Keep all the great memories close to your heart and remember the good times.
Mary Anne McNichol
Tracy and Ray Jackson
So sorry to hear of his passing. His absence will be felt deeply.
Marissa (Scott) Berdan
Van Doornik family, so sorry for your loss. Hoping your happy memories will bring you comfort at this time.