Event Date : Saturday, June 13, 1936
Event Type : Death

Description : Bohoniuk, 25-year-old Ukranian, of Toronto, was drowned in the Holland Marsh irrigation canal, at the point where the canal skirts the rear of Mr. J. W. Wilson's farm. He had arrived in Bradford two days before and secured work with Anglo del Zotto and F. Bollsanelo, market gardeners. Having finished work, he decided to bathe in the canal. When he did not appear for supper, a search was instituted, police were called, and eventually his body was found in about nine feet of water. The body was removed to the undertaking rooms of T. Kilkenny & Son, Bradford. Coroner Dr. J. A. Cummings did not feel that an inquest was necessary.The brother of the dead man had the body removed to Toronto for burial in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Event Date : Tuesday, July 05, 1938
Event Type : Death

Description : Passed away suddenly, in his 68th year, while working his land in the Holland Marsh. Husband to Ethel A. Williams. Was instrumental in establishing the Holland Marsh after moving to Bradford from Guelph where he was a professor at the Ontario Agricultural College.Is interred in Woodlawn cemetery in Guelph where Rev. Vaughan conducted the service.

Event Date : Saturday, August 22, 1953
Event Type : Death

Description : A pioneer settler and highly esteemed resident of the Holland Marsh, Mr. Abraham Havinga, passed away at Newmarket Hospital on Saturday, August 22, following a long period of failing heart. Born at Kielwindeweer, Holland, in 1879, Mr. Havinga, with his wife and family, came to Canada in 1930. Four years later in 1934, they settled on the Holland Marsh as members of the first little community of Dutch Canadians who pioneered the development of the gardening project which today is known across the continent. He was one of the little group who built the first small church on the Marsh and the members of his family were among the pupils of the marsh's first school and assisted in the care of the books which comprised their little church's first library. One of the early deaths on the Marsh was Mrs. Havinga, leaving her husband and a family of ten sons and daughters. Ten years after the death of the mother of his family, Mr. Havinga visited his native Holland where he remarried on January 27, 1949, in Groningen He is survived by his second wife and his family of five daughters and five sons, namely Miss Elsa Havinga, R.N., of New York; Mrs. Peter Turkstra (Tena)of Hamilton; Mrs. A.C. Klemn (Joan) of Toronto; Mrs. T. Miedema (Cora), R.R. 2, Newmarket; Mrs. C.M. Sneep (Elsey), Chatham; John Havinga, Granum, Alberta; Jack Havinga, Granum, Alberta; Fred of Toronto; Ralph of Windsor, and Michael of Toronto. A most devout member of the Christian Reformed Church, Mr. Havinga's funeral was from his Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church with the newly appointed minister of the Springdale Church, Rev. R. Wildschut, conducting the services. Internment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. The pallbearers were members of the early families of the Marsh, namely Messers. John Van Dyke, E. De Young, A Biemold, Walter Horlings, L. Boonstra and H. Prins.

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 : 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 : Thursday, February 20, 1975
Event Type : In Memoriam

Description : In loving memory of a dear husband, father and grandfather, who passed away February 20, 1975 - Lovingly remembered by wife Elizabeth, Edward, Margaret, Darlene, Cathy, Sherri and Steven.

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."