John Witte

It is with great sadness that the Witte family announces the death of our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather, John Witte. One of six children born into the Witte family in Brielle, The Netherlands, he overcame ample adversity in his early life -- the early death of his parents, grinding poverty, service in the Dutch resistance against the Nazis, followed by four years of conscripted Dutch military service in Indonesia. What saved him was his unwavering Christian faith and the love of his life, Gertie Witte, whom he met on his birthday in 1945, and married on May 15, 1951. They immigrated to St. Catharines the next year and were blessed with five children, eleven grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren. When mom died six weeks ago, we all knew it was only a matter of time before he would join her in heavenly rest.

Dad was a man of incredible loyalty, love, and faithfulness, especially to his family, and he was a profound mentor to his children and grandchildren. Self-made, self-educated, and self-reliant, his philosophy of life was “if you can go, go.” He created his own family construction company and thrived as a carpenter, builder, and business man. He taught all of us the meaning and measure of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. He showed us how to live simply, humbly, and within our means. He drove us all to be the best we could be, and to use our time and talents wisely and in loving service of others. Our very close family bond is an enduring testimony to the lessons that he and mom both taught us.

Dad was insatiably curious, innovative, and adventuresome. He bought one of the very first hand calculators, and promptly took it apart to see how it worked. He did the same with computers – crashing, repairing, restoring, and replacing them with alacrity. No tool or appliance in his home was ever safe from his eventual ministrations.

He was also irrepressibly mischievous, with a great appreciation for irony. He laughed easily, and wore a permanent smile, especially when fishing, traveling, and tinkering, his favorite past times. He loved stories, plays, and parables, and attached profound meaning to simple routines and rituals, especially with his family.

Dad was a man of humble and pious faith, and generous in his support of Christian churches, schools, charities, and missions. He was also gracious in his ecumenism, and to his last days spoke with reverence about the Catholic chaplains who helped him through the hardship of the Indonesian jungles. While he loved order and community, he had no toleration for pretense, graft, or abuse, and no patience for idle rules or bureaucratic red tape. Justice, mercy, and charity – these were his perennial insistence and example.

John Witte is survived by his children, Ria (with her husband Obie Rypstra and their children Joel, Jonathan, Nathan, Becky, and David), Gertie (with her husband John Reid and their children Angela and James), Jane (with her husband Norman Herbin and their daughter Celina), and John (with his wife Eliza Ellison and their children Hope and Alison). He will be buried next to mom and their fifth child “Ponkie.”

A Memorial Service will take place on Wednesday, June 18, 12 noon at IMMANUEL UNITED ORTHODOX REFORMED CHURCH, 2900 Fourth Ave. in Jordan with a reception to follow in honour of both mom and dad. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Heritage Christian School. Arrangements entrusted to HULSE & ENGLISH FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL; 75 Church St. (905-684-6346). On-line tributes may be made at www.hulseandenglish.com.