Dirk Stam

Dirk Stam passed away on Friday, June 21 at the age of 92.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Jana, and his daughters, Cora and Coby. 

Dirk grew up in Capelle aan den IJssel, in the Netherlands, the 15^th of 16 children.  Early in life, he had aspirations of becoming a baker and taking over the family bakery.  However, after a few years of working in the family business, he felt a call to something else.  So, he went back to school to study construction, engineering and management.  All his study landed him a job in the construction industry managing large concrete construction jobs, which took him all over the world from Holland, to France, Arabia and even Algeria.  He loved his work, and he loved construction.  Dirk and Jana were married in 1955, after 5 years of dating, and started a family a while later when their daughters Coby, and Cora came along.      

In 1983 daughter, Cora, moved to Canada at the age of 17, and eventually convinced her parents to follow.  Dirk and Jana made the move in 1993, first living in Abbotsford, where they lived together with Cora and her husband, and where Dirk took up the work with Cora’s husband of building a log home on Sumas Mountain.  In the late 90’s Dirk, and Jana decided to move to Duncan, on Vancouver Island, where they lived in a couple of different homes, until finally making the move to Chilliwack in 2004.  Even in Chilliwack, Dirk and Jana moved from house to house.  Dirk was restless, and was always on the go!  But, wherever he went, he had a drive to improve things – the house, and especially the garden.  He loved gardening and could grow anything.  He also gained deep satisfaction from helping others with their home improvement, and renovation projects.  His help was in high demand. 

In late 2018 Dirk became ill and spent significant time in hospital.  In March 2019 he was moved to Heritage Village, where he quickly won the hearts of all the nurses and staff with his kind, considerate, and faith-filled way.  Jana moved into another room in Heritage sometime later, and they saw each other every day.  Dirk was so genuinely appreciative of all those that cared for him and Jana at Heritage Village.  Through his warm-hearted, generous, and inquisitive spirit, he naturally developed a close, almost familial bond with each one, and he valued them all.  Dirk’s manner, and faith left a meaningful imprint on the lives of many of Heritage Village’s excellent Care Aides and Administrative staff, just as they left a deep imprint on him with their care and friendship.  The family wishes to thank all the staff, administration, and care personnel for all they were and did for Dirk, and continue to do for Jana.                      

Dirk will be remembered as hardworking, intelligent, caring, dependable man, who had a deep faith in Jesus Christ.  He also loved his family well, and showed it by his interest in all that interested them (from horses to home interiors to gardens). 

A graveside service will be held July 12, 2024 at 11am a Chilliwack Cemeteries (Little Mountain).  All are welcome to attend.