It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that the family of John Monsma, age 66 years, announce his passing at home, with his family by his side, on Wednesday, September 16, 2015.
John was born to Bodus and Tena Monsma on July 2, 1949 in Leeuwarden, Holland and emigrated to Canada by ship, with his parents and older brother Edward, when he was one year old. As new immigrants to Canada, the family were “housed in a jail”, with no locks, in Montreal before travelling to Alberta to begin their new life together.
John graduated from Ross Sheppard High School and NAIT in the Architectural Technologist program. While living and working in Calgary, he met his life partner Brenda in the fall of 1975. They were united in marriage on September 11, 1976 in Fort Frances, Ontario. They moved to Thunder Bay in 1983 with their children Crystal and Jason. John worked for various architectural firms in Thunder Bay before his retirement two years ago.
John loved sports and played many but the one he loved the most was golf. He took his final golf trip this past June to Duluth to ride in the cart, enjoy dinner out and most importantly, be with his Monday night friends of over 30 years. Thank-you guys for taking such good care of him. And Norm in particular, for making the last trip happen for John.
Left to mourn John's passing is his wife of 40 years, Brenda (Gurski); daughter Crystal (Simeoni) Armando and their children Chiara and Nico; son Jason (Renee nee Smith) and their children Devin and Blake John Monsma; brother-in-law Les Gurski (Tina) and their children Matthew (Tana), Lauren, Adriane and Maggie; brother-in-law Mike Gurski and his sons Scott and Nick; sister-in-law Margery Gaede (Harry); niece Theresa Monsma (Matthieu) and her children Max and Ben and nephew Donald Monsma (Anna).
He was predeceased by his parents, Bodus and Tena Monsma; brother Edward as well as his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Nick and Erma Gurski.
Our hearts are broken, we have lost a good man. Kind, caring Husband, Father, Father-in-law and Papa to Chiara, Nico, Devin and Blake. He adored you all.
“Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.” Until we meet again.
Funeral Services for the late Mr. John Monsma will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 1:00pm in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James. A private interment will take place at a later date.
If you should so desire, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Center, 980 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 6V4.
