Event Date : Wednesday, June 27, 1956
Event Type : Death

Description : One of the most beloved, respected and best known gentleman of this community passed away suddenly this morning as the result of a heart attack in the person of Ralph Matthews. Mr. Matthews left his home in Ansnorveld this morning, Wednesday, June 27, as usual, for his duties at Holland River Gardens Co. Limited. Shortly after 8 o'clock he suffered a heart seizure and passed away. Apparently he had been enjoying good health but Mr. Matthews gave of his energy and good cheer so freely to others that the strain doubtless took its toll. Conscientious in his business duties, he was still ever ready to lead with his cheerful good humour as master of ceremonies at social gatherings in the evening.He was a friend to all and esteemed by all. His sudden death is a personal loss, not only to his family, but to the members of the Ansnorveld community and to the many who were delighted to call him their friend in Bradford. The sympathy of everyone who had the good fortune to know Ralph Matthews will be extended to his wife and daughters. The funeral will be from the Lathangue-Kilkenny Funeral Home, where the body is resting, on Saturday at 2 p.m.

September 12, 1994
Death
MUMA - Jonathan Douglas (Jon) - Suddenly as result of an auto accident on Monday, September 12, 1994, John Muma of Bond Head in his 20th year. Beloved son of Allan and Sandie Muma of Bond Head. Dear brother of Kiristin of Bond Head. Dear special friend of Michelle Viaene of Bradford. Dear grandson of Ruth and late Gordon Muma, Fern Hadden of Willowdale and William Hadden of Amherst, N.S. Also survived by many auhts, uncles, cousins and friends. Friends called at the Lathangue & Skwarchuck Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St. Bradford. Service was held at the Bradford Baptist Church on Thursday, September 15, 1994 at 2 p.m. Interment at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. Donations to the Asthma Society of Canada would be appreciated.

September 11, 1986
Death

NANOWSKI Michael -- At York County Hospital, Newmarket, on Thursday, September 11, 1986, Michael Nanowski of the Holland Marsh in his 68th year. Beloved husband of Katherine, dear father of John and his wife Mikki and Erica (Mrs. Tom Lenartowicz). Dear grandfather of John-Paul, Michael and Joseph. Friends called at The Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford. Funeral Mass was held at the Holy Martyrs of Japan Church, on Monday at 10am. Interment at Holy Martyrs Cemetery, Bradford.

October 14, 1993
Death
SIMURDA, Andrew - (Pioneer of Holland Marsh) at York County Hospital, Newmarket on Thursday, October 14, 1993, Andrew Simurda of Bradford in his 88th year. Beloved husband of Mary Sepela. Dear father of Dr. Michael Simurda and his wife Binka of Kingston, John Simurda and his wife Olga of Bradford, Marleen and her husband Jim Langdon of Cookstown and predeceased by John Edgar Simurda. Dear brother of Stean Simurda and his wife Mary of Bradford, Michael Simurda and his wife Anna of Czechoslovakia. Also survived by 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Friends called at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe Street, Bradford. Funeral Mass was held t the Holy Martyrs of Japan Church, Bradford on Saturday, October 16, 1993 at 9 a.m. Interment at Holy Martyrs Cemetery. Donations to the York County Hospital Foundation, Newmarket would be appreciated.

Event Date : Friday, October 17, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Vic Turner, veteran councillor and past reeve of West Gwillimbury, died at his home in Bradford on Friday, October 17, at age 85. Mr. Turner, whose son Art is now Reeve of Bradford, came to Canada in 1907 at the age of 16. He came alone, leaving behind his family in South Chinford, just outside London. Mr. Turner first came to Toronto, then moved up to Bradford where he worked on the Pulford family farm on the 12th Line of West Gwillimbury. Bobby Pulford, a son of the family, is now coach of the Los Angeles Rams. After taking jobs in Toronto and in the west of Canada, Mr. Turner moved back to West Gwillimbury and farmed there for many years. He married three times, his first wife being Esther Brown; his second marriage to Elizabeth Riley was in August 1921. During their long marriage, the Turners farmed locally, then moved to Bradford in 1949. The second Mrs. Turner died in 1962. In 1963, Mr. Turner married for a third time, to Irene Brown of West Gwillimbury. Mr. Turner is survived by five children: Mrs. Margaret Summerville of Guelph, Bruce Turner of Kemptville near Ottawa, Art Turner of Bradford, Doug Turner of Timmins and Mrs. Dorothy Hodgson of Thunder Bay; and by 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Mr. Turner first became involved in local politics when he became a councillor in West Gwillimbury around 1937. He stayed on council becoming reeve in 1946 and holding this position in 1947 and '48.Mr. Turner left active politics and worked for Holland River Gardens (now Hardee Farms) following this. He retired from work seven years ago. While working at Hardee, Mr. Turner was appointed to the Bradford Public Utilities Commission in 1951. Appointment to the commission was then a council decision and not an elected post. Mr. Turner's proudest achievement was opening up Simcoe Road to the marsh and pushing for a bridge to be built linking the marsh to the main Bradford area, thus making it possible for the marsh to be developed for commercial farming. While serving on the Public Utilities Commission, Mr. Turner was instrumental in the decision to buy the present PUC building on Barrie Street. Mr. Turner was also involved in the Bradford Masonic Lodge, but his main interest all his life was in the marsh and the people living and farming it. The funeral service was held at the chapel of the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Simcoe St., Bradford, followed by burial at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Monday, October 20.

June 19, 1994
Death
VAN DYKE, ARTHUR (Past President of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association) at the Holland Christian Homes, Brampton, on Sunday June 19, 1994, Arthur Van Dyke in his 81st year. Dearly beloved husband of Agnes, loving father of Dennis of Mansfield, Leona and her husband Robert Kelly of Mississauga, Ronald and his wife Deborah of Vancouver and Lrone of Monroe, Washington. Loved grandfather of Amanda, Robert and his wife Cathy, Sara, Rebecca, Matthew, Joshua, Adam, Tasha, Arthur and Gloria. Memorial service will be held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Springdale Christian Reform Church in the Holland Marsh. Interment Meadowvale Cemetery, Brampton. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimers Society would be greatly appreciated by the family.

Event Date : Saturday, January 22, 1994
Event Type : Death
Municipality :
Community : Other - Bradford
Description : Peacefully at York County Hospital, Newmarket, in her 75th year. Nee Oosterhuis. Resident of the Holland Marsh. Wife of the late Adrianus and his wife Sara, Greta and her late husband Adrian Hordyk, Peter, Anita and her husband John Brouwer. Sister of Rudy, Herman and Gilbert Oosterhuis, Ruth Noordhuis and predeceased by Stouffer, John and Gus Oosterhuis. Also survived by eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Visitation at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Bradford. Service at the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church. Interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. Donations to the Lou Gehrig's Disease or to the Newmarket and District Association for Community Living would be appreciated. *Original stored in Joe Saint Collection.