Obituary for Jan Breedveld
BREEDVELD, Jan “John” – GONE FISHING – This extraordinary man slipped away Friday, July 8, 2022, at the age of 78. He was born October 10th, 1943, to Jan Sr. and Regina Breedveld Sr. in Delft, the Netherlands and emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada with his family just before his 18th birthday after finishing trade school.
He dreamed of joining the Merchant Marines, but instead, he immediately started working to help support his family. This defined the man he became, one who possessed a strong work ethnic and held an abiding loyalty and duty to family and those he loved.
Winnipeg never suited the Breedveld’s and after Regina Sr. attended a spring family wedding in Niagara, it took less than a month to pack up and move everyone to Port Dalhousie. Eventually the family moved to a small cottage on Wilberforce St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Jan never lost his Netherlander roots and was proud, strong and, yes stubborn. He was a diligent employee working at Domtar Pulp and Paper Mill, Merritton, St. Catharines, and then was promoted to Toronto to work in the chemical division at General Electric. He stayed at Mrs. Thompson’s boarding house for “young working men” and connections made there parlayed into an eventual partnership with chemical waste management company, Aimco Solrec in Milton.
Jan was indeed a “Man Outstanding in his Field”, not only professionally but also, being blessed with “a Green Thumb”, he grew everything from grapes to nuts, made his own wine, was an inventor, crafting his own winemaking equipment and creating artistic sculptures from scrap metal.
This self-made man was an astute investor, and the best investment he ever made was to marry Wendy Anderson by finding her at 60 in the Globe and Mail Personals. This adventure made for some of the most memorable years of his life.
Jan was a modest man of simple pleasures, enjoying international music, soccer, fishing, farming and being the all-around Mr. Fix-it. Despite lacking formal education, he was curious, well-read, speaking/reading English, Dutch and French, being an authority on Dutch history and avid historical and sci-fi buff, just to name a few.
Despite successful surgery, Jan had a massive stroke but, it was a rare blood cancer disorder, something he successfully battled for seven years that robbed him of years of an active life. He is predeceased by parents Jan Breedveld Sr. and Regina Wessling Breedveld Sr., his brother Anton and well-loved mother-in-law, Babs. He is sorely missed by his wife, Wen (Wendy), sister Regina, brother Maarten, cousins Simone (Bart) Van Rijsbergen and great cousins, Jeroen and Peter in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, his old friends, and a large extended family of in-laws. Fondly missed by his felines, Pekoe, Rosie and Moochie.
Our dearest Jan, how we will miss your laughter, intellect, curiosity, and great “down to earth” cooking. You were indeed, “one of a kind” and the very best husband and brother. You will forever live in our hearts and memories.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Jan’s life will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to MORGAN FUNERAL HOME, 415 Regent Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.morganfuneral.com
He dreamed of joining the Merchant Marines, but instead, he immediately started working to help support his family. This defined the man he became, one who possessed a strong work ethnic and held an abiding loyalty and duty to family and those he loved.
Winnipeg never suited the Breedveld’s and after Regina Sr. attended a spring family wedding in Niagara, it took less than a month to pack up and move everyone to Port Dalhousie. Eventually the family moved to a small cottage on Wilberforce St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Jan never lost his Netherlander roots and was proud, strong and, yes stubborn. He was a diligent employee working at Domtar Pulp and Paper Mill, Merritton, St. Catharines, and then was promoted to Toronto to work in the chemical division at General Electric. He stayed at Mrs. Thompson’s boarding house for “young working men” and connections made there parlayed into an eventual partnership with chemical waste management company, Aimco Solrec in Milton.
Jan was indeed a “Man Outstanding in his Field”, not only professionally but also, being blessed with “a Green Thumb”, he grew everything from grapes to nuts, made his own wine, was an inventor, crafting his own winemaking equipment and creating artistic sculptures from scrap metal.
This self-made man was an astute investor, and the best investment he ever made was to marry Wendy Anderson by finding her at 60 in the Globe and Mail Personals. This adventure made for some of the most memorable years of his life.
Jan was a modest man of simple pleasures, enjoying international music, soccer, fishing, farming and being the all-around Mr. Fix-it. Despite lacking formal education, he was curious, well-read, speaking/reading English, Dutch and French, being an authority on Dutch history and avid historical and sci-fi buff, just to name a few.
Despite successful surgery, Jan had a massive stroke but, it was a rare blood cancer disorder, something he successfully battled for seven years that robbed him of years of an active life. He is predeceased by parents Jan Breedveld Sr. and Regina Wessling Breedveld Sr., his brother Anton and well-loved mother-in-law, Babs. He is sorely missed by his wife, Wen (Wendy), sister Regina, brother Maarten, cousins Simone (Bart) Van Rijsbergen and great cousins, Jeroen and Peter in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, his old friends, and a large extended family of in-laws. Fondly missed by his felines, Pekoe, Rosie and Moochie.
Our dearest Jan, how we will miss your laughter, intellect, curiosity, and great “down to earth” cooking. You were indeed, “one of a kind” and the very best husband and brother. You will forever live in our hearts and memories.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Jan’s life will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to MORGAN FUNERAL HOME, 415 Regent Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.morganfuneral.com