Showing 16 results

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 : 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.

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.