Obituary for Joan van den Ham (van Donkersgoed)
Joan van den Ham (Teunisje van Donkersgoed)
May 18, 1931 - August 5, 2020.
Joan was born in Voorthuizen, Barneveld, the Netherlands on May 18, 1931. She was the youngest of 5 children born to Klaas and Jannetje (Brons) van Donkersgoed. She grew up on a small farm, lived simply with meager means.
Joan married John van den Ham in 1953 and immigrated to Canada immediately afterwards. She had many stories of hardships and challenges as she and John adjusted to life in a new country in which neither of them could speak the language. Their first home was a small, single bedroom home in Chater, Manitoba.
Motherhood was Joan’s primary calling and she took this task very seriously. Her goal, she used to say, was to have a dozen kids but after the birth of her 8th child the doctor advised her that she might be getting a little tired and it was best to stop. She was the most giving, loving, unselfish woman you could ever meet. Having attended housekeeping school in Holland she knew how to sew, crochet, knit, and do almost any craft. She was a very good teacher, patiently teaching these skills to her daughters and many others in the local 4-H club.
Joan’s commitment wasn’t only to the physical needs of her family though, her higher calling was to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). She taught God’s word at home verbally and by modeling a Christian spirit, a submissive marriage and biblical discipline. Conversations with her often circled back to God’s sovereignty and trusting the Lord and she lived each day in full submission to his will. She often quoted the phrase, “We don’t know what the future holds but we know who holds the future.”
No one was a stranger to Joan. She had the gift of hospitality and was quick to invite family, friends, and complete strangers to join the family for a meal or cup of coffee. It was commonplace to have guests on Sundays as she would invite anyone who visited the church over for lunch As she put it – “It’s no problem, we can just add water to the soup.” At 10:00 each morning or 3:00 each afternoon she could be counted on to serve coffee or tea to anyone who stopped by. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome and no one left hungry.
Once her children were grown, Joan found time to participate in the neighborhood bible study and to volunteer once a week at Fairview Personal Care Home – visiting residents and helping out as needed. Ironically, Fairview became her home the last years of her life and the staff at Fairview provided her with excellent care. Thank you to each one who ministered to her, keeping her hands busy and bringing joy to her each day.
Joan is survived by eight children, 27 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren: Son, Herman and Dianne; Kimberly, Douglas (Louise), Christina (Casey), Greg (Benil), Michael (Kiera). Daughter, Janet and Larry Wierenga; Trevor (Lauren), Sandra (Matt), Jody (Drayson), Jason (Kaylee). Daughter, Arlene and Tom Mitri, Christopher (Cheryl), Pamela (Jarrod). Daughter, Evelyn and Todd McKim; Steven (Tara), Travis (Stefanie), Ryan (Kimberley). Son, Clarence and Lil; Cheryl (Devin), Dave (Jaime), Lori (Steven), Jen (Josh). Daughter, Brenda and Bruce Bunting; Joel (Morgan), Lisa (Travis), Hailey. Daughter, Joyce and Ed Kistemaker; Jonathan (Rachel), Stephanie (Jake), Rachel, Jennifer (Alec). Son, Paul and Sherry; Tyler (Samantha), Tara (Anthony).
Joan loved to laugh. She had a sense of humor that was infectious and when you spent time with her, she had a way of getting you to laugh as well. Her life mission to serve the Lord, her unwavering faith, stoic perseverance in all circumstances and refusal to grumble have served as a testimony to many of those who knew her. She always smiled, always encouraged and always saw good in life. She will be dearly missed but we celebrate that she now rests in the arms of her heavenly father.
A Private Family Service will take place on Thursday, August 20, 2020. The family invites you to view the service remotely at 11:00 a.m. – a link will appear approximately 10 minutes prior to the service on Joan’s memorial page on www.memorieschapel.com.
Donations in memory of Joan may be made to CRC relief efforts:
https://donate.worldrenew.ca/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30110a?df_id=8461&8461.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&NONCE_TOKEN=AB929529CE3C401F2BA5ED9F8FA5B0EF
May 18, 1931 - August 5, 2020.
Joan was born in Voorthuizen, Barneveld, the Netherlands on May 18, 1931. She was the youngest of 5 children born to Klaas and Jannetje (Brons) van Donkersgoed. She grew up on a small farm, lived simply with meager means.
Joan married John van den Ham in 1953 and immigrated to Canada immediately afterwards. She had many stories of hardships and challenges as she and John adjusted to life in a new country in which neither of them could speak the language. Their first home was a small, single bedroom home in Chater, Manitoba.
Motherhood was Joan’s primary calling and she took this task very seriously. Her goal, she used to say, was to have a dozen kids but after the birth of her 8th child the doctor advised her that she might be getting a little tired and it was best to stop. She was the most giving, loving, unselfish woman you could ever meet. Having attended housekeeping school in Holland she knew how to sew, crochet, knit, and do almost any craft. She was a very good teacher, patiently teaching these skills to her daughters and many others in the local 4-H club.
Joan’s commitment wasn’t only to the physical needs of her family though, her higher calling was to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). She taught God’s word at home verbally and by modeling a Christian spirit, a submissive marriage and biblical discipline. Conversations with her often circled back to God’s sovereignty and trusting the Lord and she lived each day in full submission to his will. She often quoted the phrase, “We don’t know what the future holds but we know who holds the future.”
No one was a stranger to Joan. She had the gift of hospitality and was quick to invite family, friends, and complete strangers to join the family for a meal or cup of coffee. It was commonplace to have guests on Sundays as she would invite anyone who visited the church over for lunch As she put it – “It’s no problem, we can just add water to the soup.” At 10:00 each morning or 3:00 each afternoon she could be counted on to serve coffee or tea to anyone who stopped by. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome and no one left hungry.
Once her children were grown, Joan found time to participate in the neighborhood bible study and to volunteer once a week at Fairview Personal Care Home – visiting residents and helping out as needed. Ironically, Fairview became her home the last years of her life and the staff at Fairview provided her with excellent care. Thank you to each one who ministered to her, keeping her hands busy and bringing joy to her each day.
Joan is survived by eight children, 27 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren: Son, Herman and Dianne; Kimberly, Douglas (Louise), Christina (Casey), Greg (Benil), Michael (Kiera). Daughter, Janet and Larry Wierenga; Trevor (Lauren), Sandra (Matt), Jody (Drayson), Jason (Kaylee). Daughter, Arlene and Tom Mitri, Christopher (Cheryl), Pamela (Jarrod). Daughter, Evelyn and Todd McKim; Steven (Tara), Travis (Stefanie), Ryan (Kimberley). Son, Clarence and Lil; Cheryl (Devin), Dave (Jaime), Lori (Steven), Jen (Josh). Daughter, Brenda and Bruce Bunting; Joel (Morgan), Lisa (Travis), Hailey. Daughter, Joyce and Ed Kistemaker; Jonathan (Rachel), Stephanie (Jake), Rachel, Jennifer (Alec). Son, Paul and Sherry; Tyler (Samantha), Tara (Anthony).
Joan loved to laugh. She had a sense of humor that was infectious and when you spent time with her, she had a way of getting you to laugh as well. Her life mission to serve the Lord, her unwavering faith, stoic perseverance in all circumstances and refusal to grumble have served as a testimony to many of those who knew her. She always smiled, always encouraged and always saw good in life. She will be dearly missed but we celebrate that she now rests in the arms of her heavenly father.
A Private Family Service will take place on Thursday, August 20, 2020. The family invites you to view the service remotely at 11:00 a.m. – a link will appear approximately 10 minutes prior to the service on Joan’s memorial page on www.memorieschapel.com.
Donations in memory of Joan may be made to CRC relief efforts:
https://donate.worldrenew.ca/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30110a?df_id=8461&8461.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&NONCE_TOKEN=AB929529CE3C401F2BA5ED9F8FA5B0EF