Joannes Leonardus Van Nieuwenhoven
January 27th, 2014
Leo passed away peacefully at Christine Morrison Hospice on Monday, January 27, 2014. He was predeceased by his daughter Mary-Ann and brother Harry. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Ann; daughter Ria (Ted); son-in-law Milton (Laurel); 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, 2 brothers, 3 sisters as well as many extended family members and cherished friends.
Leo was born in Nederweert, Limburg, Netherlands and immigrated to Canada in 1954. Ann soon followed and they were married on September 18, 1954 in Salmon Arm, BC. They moved to Aldergrove in 1961 and in 1967 they rented their first farm in Matsqui. After 3 years, they purchased their own farm in Sumas Prairie where they farmed until 1981. He then “semi-retired” to a broiler farm on Tolmie Rd. until 1990.
Leo loved to travel around in the motorhome and enjoyed bus trips to the USA & Eastern Canada. He also spent a lot of time reading, puzzling and biking around the Sumas Prairie and loved working outside in the gardens. Leo’s greatest joy were his children and grandchildren.
Special thanks to the staff at Christine Morrison Hospice, his “private nurse” Linda Stewart and Dr. Donald Scamen for all the care and support we received.
Prayers Vigil will be held on Wednesday February 5 at 7:00pm and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday February 6 at 11:00am. All services will be held at St. Anns Roman Catholic Church 33333 Mayfair Ave. Abbotsford. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Christine Morrison Hospice in Mission, BC.
You are invited to leave a fond memory or message of condolence for the family.
Messages:
What I remember and love most of Uncle Leo was his easy-going good nature, always ready with a smile or a joke, and always that mischievous glint in his eye. Some of my earliest and best memories were the days we spent on his dairy farm. My family had moved to BC and Uncle Leo and Aunt Ann opened their home to all eight of us until my Mom and Dad could find a new job and new home and I still remember so much from those days and later visits. – Watching the cows in their stations for their milking and minding the cows that might kick. Seeing a calf born and another being dehorned. The clean smell of chlorine from the dairy. The smell of the diesel tractor when he took my brother and I for a ride, and helping him hitch it to some implement. Moving fences with him "Did we remember to turn off the fencer?" "It must be off" I said as I touched, then grabbed the wire without feeling anything. Then his dog Toby licked my hand & we both yelped! Oh, then all sorts of other stray memories like playing in the ditches and barns, getting in trouble for playing with matches and hiding things on people. Oh, and one epic water fight with Mary-Ann. Later, I remember Uncle Leo and Aunt Ann would often visit us. Even as kids he'd always show a real interest in us, giving you his undivided attention, listening patiently, then some kind words and usually making us laugh. And birthdays were especially exciting because they'd bring presents! Then coffee would be on and we'd listen to the sound of much yacking in Dutch until we'd fall asleep. We didn't understand it, but it was always comforting. He'd tell us to make our living with our brains, not our backs. As an adult, I've done that, living in towns and the big city. Not liking it and not really knowing it until I visited someone else’s farm. It felt so much like home there among the barns and fences and animals. I know I carry the genes of generations of farming, but a great deal of that feeling is from the seeds sewn by Uncle Leo on those visits so many years ago. So I met and proposed to my beautiful, talented, amazing wife Tammy on that farm, in that barn. We tied the knot at a heritage farm not far away and Uncle Leo and Aunt Ann were there to see it. Since then, we’ve been moving more and more rural until we’re pretty much in the sticks now. We bought some farmland with some bush, and have built a home for ourselves where we’re raising our two beautiful, talented and amazing girls with chickens and horses, dogs and cats, barns and fences. Not a true farm yet, but we’ll get there. Uncle Leo was my mother's younger brother, my god-father and we share given names. He was a good man, a good roll-model, and one of my favourite people. We haven’t been in touch for some time now, but I’ve remembered him often, and I will miss him. David Leonard Pouw
Very sorry to hear of great uncle Leo passing on. Prayers are with each of his close family and friends. Much love to each of you as you deal with the loss of a father,brother,friend and family member.
Dear Aunt Ann and family: We are sorry to hear about Uncle Leo passing away. I have warm memories of our families getting together. We just want to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. God bless, Cathy and Doug
We are very sorry to hear about Uncle Leo passing away. Three times we were on a holiday in Canada, Three times we were a guest at Uncle Leo & Aunt Ann, Three times another house, and three times another dog. All those times we were there, we always felt very welcome. We had such a great time when we stayed with them. Every morning we walked through the forest with the dog. Uncle Leo used to tell such great stories about the good old days and our family in Holland. His brother Mies, our father and grandfather told us we only could go for a quick visit. We shouldn't bother them that long. Uncle Leo laughed and said: "Don't listen to your dad". Uncle Leo was proud of his country and wanted to show it as much as possible. He enjoyed our visits and did everything to make us feel comfortable. He played games with us, we talked a lot and our son Rob loved the pool table. Every evening they played a few games together. He showed us a truck company where an old colleague of Frans works, and went with us to Mount Baker in the USA. We have such beautiful memories about the times with Uncle Leo and we will always think of him with a smile on our face. We will miss him.