Obituary of Jan Derk Haalboom
<h1>Jan Derk Haalboom</h1>
Born in Lunteren, a quaint village in central Netherlands, on the 1st day of January 1915; died on Friday, the 26th day of October at St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener in his 93rd year, predeceased by his Austrian-born wife, Marianne (Allmaier).
Beloved father of Richard (Jean) in Kitchener; Barbara Parkin (Keith-deceased) in Hamilton; Paul (Dianne Russell) in Lynden; and Lorenz (Pauline) in Winnipeg. Fondly remembered as Opa by his grandchildren, namely Erijka, Ariana, Karen (Milan), Kathy, (Chris), Derek (Rachel), Adam (Rachael), Bethany, Collin, Brad, Ian (Krystil), Anna-Marie, Nadine; and by his great-grandchildren, namely Marianne, Tate, Emma, Tyler, Tessa, Carter, Madeleine, and Charlotte.
Jan Derk lived an eventful and complete life. At age 17, he had to take charge of his father's coal business in Holland. During the war years he was an active member of the Dutch Resistance helping to hide fellow Dutchmen, for which he was awarded the Dutch government Medal of Freedom. He also aided the escape of Allied soldiers across the Rhine River, for which he was given recognition by General Eisenhower and by the British government.
The contradictory turmoil and routine of post-war life in Holland made him and Marianne pull up stakes and move to Ontario in 1951; first to the Sarnia area where the family lived in Petrolia and he worked as a millwright at what is now Polysar long enough to earn enough money to buy a farm south of Mount Forest in 1958. He converted the farm into a broiler chicken business; retired at a relatively young age and moved to the Kitchener-Waterloo area where he enjoyed the intricacies of his computers and his growing family of friends, in-laws and grandchildren.
Throughout his life, uppermost in his mind and spirit was his membership and participation in congregations of the Christian Reformed Church and his daily journey through various passages of the Bible. Many thanks to all his church friends who kept an eye on him and who gave him company, especially to Pastor Bernhard De Jong.
A very special Thank You to nephew Teunis and his wife Anne Haalboom, both of whom unabatedly provided Jan Derk with encouragement, support and companionship; and to Christine Lagrosas, who was his irreplaceable caregiver during the last difficult months of his life. Not to be forgotten is the special medical care given to him by his family doctor, Dr. Pannozzo and by Dr. Spanglet. The emergency nursing staff and doctors at Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener are also thanked for their attention to his medical needs.
At the request of Jan Derk, there will be no visitation. Interment will be attended by the family. The Community Christian Reformed Church located at 1275 Bleams Rd. in Kitchener will hold a service in his memory on Saturday, the 3rd day of November at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in Jan Derk's memory may be made to Canadian Blood Services or to St. Mary's Hospital Foundation for its Cardiac Care Centre and can be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo, 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com
In living memory of Jan Derk, a tree will be planted through the Trees for Learning Program by the funeral home.
