In Loving Memory of

Jan (John) Van Drunen

of Edmonton, Alberta
Jan 1, 2017

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our Dad and Opa, John (Jan) Van Drunen on January 01, 2017 at the age of 89. He is survived and will always be remembered by his loving wife of 42 years, Antonia (Tony); his 7 children; Henry (Monica), Jany (George), Paul (Wanda), Frank, Yvonne, Sehra (Wayne) and Michael; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great granddaughter, and family here and in Holland.

We will always remember Opa and Dad.

Opa was born in Nieuwendijk, Holland, and after spending time in the Military during WWII, he immigrated to Millet, Alberta, Canada, with his first wife Nell. His first son, Henry, was born there in 1952, and in 1955 the family moved to the Bailey Subdivision acreage. His daughter, Jany, and second son, Paul, followed after the move to the acreage. After Nell passed away in 1967, John was a single father until he met Tony 1972, and they were married in 1974, and they spent 42 loving years together on the acreage.

John’s first job in Canada was at the Millet work farm, but after moving to the acreage and several other jobs, he started a career as a Mechanic at McGregor Telephone and Power in Edmonton, where he worked until he retired in 1992.

Opa loved to spend time in his garden every summer growing Dutch potatoes, greens beans, carrots, and other vegetables. His favorite winter pastime was watching hockey, either on TV or watching his son, grandsons, and great-grandsons games.

We are comforted in knowing he has gone home to be with his Lord.