Event Date : Wednesday, July 10, 1957
Event Type : Death

Description : Little Glen Wist, 6, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wist of the Holland Marsh, was drowned in the canal beside his home at noon last Wednesday. Apparently he had fallen into the water while playing with a small toy boat, to which he had attached a string about eight feet long.Glen had been at the storage building with his two elder brothers, Gary and Paul, and his father. At noon Mr. Wist told the three boys to go home for lunch. When Mr. Wist reached home it was realized that the youngest brother was missing. A search was immediately begun, and when they went to the canal they found the toy boat floating on the water. When they pulled in the boat, little Glen's body came in sight, the string of the boat being tied to his foot. Resuscitation work was begun immediately by his father, and a neighbour. Bradford fire brigade was called and the firemen, with the help of Miss Marilyn Ritchie, R.N., who was soon joined by a doctor, worked for three and a half hours, but in vain. Little Glen was a bright, lovable little chap who would have started to school this fall, had he been spared. He is survived by his two elder brothers, Gary 11 and Paul 8, and his parents. The funeral was held from the Church of Holy Martyrs, Bradford, on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Interment was in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bradford.

Event Date : Wednesday, July 10, 1957
Event Type : Death

Description : Died suddenly at his home, R.R. 1, Kettleby, at the age of 6. Darling son of Frank Wist and Marjory Pattendon, and dear brother of Gary and Paul. Rested at the Lathangue-Kilkenny Funeral Home, Simcoe St., Bradford. Funeral was held Saturday at 9:30 a.m., to the Holy Martyrs of Japan for mass at 10 a.m. Interment Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bradford.

Event Date : Monday, February 21, 1972
Event Type : Death

Description : Died suddenly. Of R.R. 1, Kettleby, beloved husband of Marjorie Wist and dear father of Gary of Bradford, Paul of Kettleby and the late Glen. Loving son of John Sr. and Elizabeth Wist of Kettleby, loving grandfather of Teressa. Resting at the Lewis Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford. Requiem high mass in the Church of the Holy Martyrs of Japan on Thursday at 10 a.m. Interment McGann's Cemetery. Recession of the Rosary, Wed., at 8 p.m.

Event Date : Tuesday, August 28, 1979
Event Type : Death

Description : One of the Holland Marsh pioneers, John Wist Sr. died last Tuesday (August 28) at York County Hospital in Newmarket. He was 83. Born in Yugoslavia, Mr. Wist emigrated to Canada in 1927, residing first in the west, then moving to the Leamington area. He and his wife Elizabeth worked on a sugar beet farm weeding for $12 an acre - tough work that lasted from sunup to sundown. Forty years ago, Mr. Wist and his family settled in the Holland Marsh where he cleared a five-acre parcel of land. He built a home on the King Rd. near the Fourth Concession, carrying every piece of lumber for the house the distance of one mile. Back in those days work really meant work" his son John Jr. commented. While he officially retired about 30 years ago Mr. Wist still kept busy on the family farm near the Muck Research Station. He helped with the back-breaking job of clearing the land and his son recalled one incident where his father had fallen during the clearing operations. Shrugging off the pain Mr. Wist suggested more work could be done on the drainage ditches. It was only later that he discovered he'd cracked two ribs in that fall. For the past two years Mr. Wist and his wife lived in retirement in Bradford. He became ill about one month ago. Mr. Wist leaves his wife Elizabeth Ernst and his son John Jr. He is predeceased by his son Frank. He also leaves a brother Mike of Toronto, grandsons Jim, Rick, Gary, and Paul, and great-grandchildren Kim, Teressa and Jaimie. Friends called at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home in Bradford and funeral mass was held at the Holy Martyrs of Japan Roman Catholic Church last Friday. He was buried at the Holy Martyrs Cemetery in West Gwillimbury Township."

Event Date : Tuesday, January 22, 1980
Event Type : Death

Description : Marsh grower Harry Verkaik died last week at York County Hospital in Newmarket. He was 69. One of the most prominent growers in the Holland Marsh, Mr. Verkaik was a key figure in the founding of the Bradford Co-operative Storage. He served both as president and board member of the co-op for many years. Born in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1910, he emigrated to Canada in 1926, settling first in the Chatham area. His first involvement with the marsh came about nine years later when he purchased 90 acres of land with his father, George Verkaik Sr., and brothers Jacob and Peter. After founding Hillside Gardens in 1964, Mr. Verkaik retired in 1965. Long active in various growers organizations, Mr. Verkaik also took part in the vast relief efforts after Hurricane Hazel in 1954. He was a devoted charter member of the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church, in which he served as an elder. Mr. Verkaik was also president of the newspaper "Calvinist Contact" for many years. A funeral service was held for Mr. Verkaik last Friday officiated by Rev. James Evenhouse. Rev. Evenhouse recited from Revelations 7 Verse 7: "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." He commended Mr. Verkaik's wife Jessie and sons Gerald and Jim for their devotion and encouragement during Mr. Verkaik's long illness. He was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery near Bradford.Friends called at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home. Mr. Verkaik predeceased by his wife Anne Horlings leaves his wife Jessie, sons Gerald and Jim, and grandchildren Karen, Valerie, Jennifer, Trevor, Loretta, Bentley, and Kathleen."

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.

January 22, 1994
Obituaries
VANLUYK, Gertrude - Peacefully at York County Hospital, Newmarket on Saturday, January 22, 1994. Gertrude Oosterhuis of the Holland Marsh in her 75th year. Beloved wife of the late Adrianus (Jack) VanLuyk. Dear mother of Adrianus and his wife Sara, Greta and her late husband Adrian Hordyk, Peter and Anita and her husband John Brouwer. Dear sister of Rudy, Herman and Gilbert Oosterhuis, Ruth Noorduis and predeceased by Stouffer, John and Gus Oosterhuis. Also survived by 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Friends called at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe Street, Bradford. Service was held at the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church in Ansnorveldt on Tuesday, January 25, 1994 at 2 p.m. Interment at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. Donations to Lou Gehrig's Disease or to the Newmarket and District Association for Community Living would be appreciated.

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.