John William Edward Middelaer

We celebrate John William Edward Middelaer, a man we proudly call our father, grandpa, friend and the center of our family. John will always be defined as a man who fully embraced and respected the opportunity that Canada offered–and built a secure and comfortable life for himself and his family through hard work, investment in skill, strong character and ethics, and exceptional resilience to challenges of all forms. John William Edward Middelaer passed away peacefully in his home in Surrey, BC on May 25, 2026.

Sharp-minded and independent to the end, John lived his 92 years with a fierce commitment to family well-being, to living well and embracing life, to caring for his beloved wife, and to demonstrating a sincere love for his children and grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Yvette Middelaer (née Dezentje - passed in 2024), and survived by his four children, Jon Middelaer, Daphne Johanson (Guy), Melissa Redlich (Bernie), and Michael Middelaer (Laurel) and his three grandchildren: Jenna Redlich, Jessica Redlich and Christian Middelaer. John was predeceased by his granddaughter, Alexa Renée Middelaer in 2008.

Born September 01,1933 on the island of Sumatra in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), John was raised on a rubber plantation with his parents and sister, enjoying an enriched life in the tropics while conversing with young friends and family in Dutch, Malay and English. This blessed life was abruptly disrupted and forever changed by the events of World War II with the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies. At the tender age of 9, John was forcibly separated from his family and interned in a boys' camp– an experience that left him with vivid, painful memories he only reluctantly shared over the years. Yet he endured–though he and his family would never return to the enjoyable life they once knew. It took more than a year after his release from internment in 1945 to finally reunite with his family. Once together, his parents decided to send him to the Netherlands to attend Baarnsch Lyceum for his secondary and post-secondary education. Through diligent study, John earned his designation as a construction technical engineer. It was also in this new and unfamiliar environment that he met his enchanting life partner, Yvette. Having survived a similar war experience in the Dutch East Indies, she shared his deep sense of resilience and bravery, but brought a charming bounce of elegance, spirit and character to John’s world. John quickly realized this ‘Belle of Indonesia’ should be his wife and friend and wisely wed her in 1956, quickly welcoming their first son, Jon, into the world shortly thereafter.

With new wife and son, John found post-war Holland limiting and elected to embark on a brave and bold journey to Canada – a decision he always cherished as one of his best (after Yvette, of course!). John loved Canada in many locales–first in Winnipeg where they welcomed daughter, Daphne, then Calgary where they welcomed Melissa and Michael. While in Calgary, he channeled his expertise into the oil and gas industry in progressive and senior risk management roles at Reed Stenhouse/Aon and Husky Oil. This long, intellectually rigorous career fostered deep professional bonds and fully engaged his exceptional problem-solving talents. John loved his work; he loved the challenge it presented for his mind, he loved the relationships he developed, and he loved the opportunities it presented to him. In retirement, John often reflected on the professional and personal relationships he shared with his industry colleagues and the rich impact they had on his life.

John’s professional experiences and responsibilities required frequent travel, sparking a deep love for exploration and discovery that he enthusiastically shared with his wife and children. His absolute favourite destination was Hawaii, where he introduced his family to the sun-kissed beaches and gentle trade winds of Oahu. From jumping into Makaha’s Beal’s Pond with his grandchildren to watching the sunset each night with Mamie at Yokohama (Alexa’s Beach), vacationing in Hawaii has become a beloved tradition for the entire family we cherish to this day. Yet, as much as he loved to travel, John truly cherished living in Calgary. Prairie life grounded John, granting him that deep security that was absent in his youth. It was here that he learned what it meant to put down roots, invest in the community, create a home and build a circle of friends.

John’s energy never allowed him to stay still. Whether he was cycling around the Glenmore Reservoir, exploring Fish Creek Park, taking a sunny day drive through the Alberta foothills, or attending a simple BBQ with his family, John was entirely in his element in the Calgary area. Navigating a beautiful stretch of road offered John an incredible sense of freedom, a gift of independence he enjoyed until his final month. Driving was an absolute pleasure for John along with the pride and solace afforded in his cars with each journey he took.

Alongside his love for the open road, John and the Middelaer family shared a passion for aviation, marked by regular trips to the airport to watch the aircraft and discuss the industry and its impact on the world. In his 90’s, one of John’s ultimate joys was taking to the skies with his grandson, Christian, in a Cessna 172, traversing the skies over the Lower Mainland and the North Shore mountains. He was an exceptional co-pilot to Christian and to all of us in the Middelaer family.

Whether by road, by sea, by air, or in spirit—may John continue to travel well and in peace.

On behalf of John and the Middelaer family, we wish to offer our deepest thanks to the talented team at Amica White Rock and the Peace Arch Hospital ER for providing exceptional care, comfort, and kindness. To Dr. Martin Lebl, for his compassion and respectful oversight when most needed. To Dr. R James Bond (and family) and Dr. Cal Andreou for their incredible talent and unending care for many years- simply the best. And finally, to our dear friend, Rick Phillips, for steadfastly loving John and Yvette, and being a witness and bright light in their final stretch on Earth. You’ve all made their life richer and complete.