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.

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.