Hermanus Johannus Van Der Loos

Mission resident Herman van der Loos (“Herman”) passed away peacefully at Menno Hospital in Abbotsford on March 10, 2026 at the age of 92. Herman, born and raised in the Netherlands, immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in 1964 to pursue his goal of becoming a dairy farmer.

Herman worked a variety of jobs in Ontario and BC, earning enough to establish H and J Dairy Farms in Matsqui Prairie in 1972. Herman, through his strong faith, hard work, assistance from his wife Joy and other ex-pat Dutch-Canadians became a successful Dairy Farmer raising four children (Anna, Martin, Stephen, and Francis) along the way.

Herman never forgot his roots, visiting and hosting his brothers, sisters and their extended family in the Netherlands ensuring that the cross-ocean family connections were maintained.

Throughout his life Herman felt an obligation to help others as he had been helped by other emigres and Canadians donating milking equipment to Helen Hillman, donating cows to the Westminster Abbey and weekly milk donations to the Poor Clare’s Monastery.

When Herman and Joy’s second-born Neil, tragically passed away as an infant, they answered the call for help from Rosemary Taylor, a lay Catholic worker who oversaw a series of orphanages in war-torn South Vietnam, adopting Martin in 1973.

As Joy became increasingly afflicted by Muscular Dystrophy ultimately succumbing in 1998, Herman took on increasing family duties, running two businesses, and helping in raising their first two grandchildren Patrick and Helena.

Herman retired from farming in the early 2000’s, his farming investment being passed on to Stephen and used his newfound time to devote to landscaping St. Joseph’s parish, working with fellow Dutch farming retirees for “Save the Children” charity, playing Dutch card games with fellow ex-pats and traveling with his great friend Jopy van Limbek.

From 2020 Herman experienced a series of health setbacks which increasingly limited his physical ability to actively help others. Herman took this time to reflect upon his accomplishments and legacy, expressing his pride in his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and friends’ successes.

Herman’s love of farming continued, observing farming operations in the Lower Mainland during hundreds of “Sunday drives”, once yearly road trips to the relocated family farm in Creston, and “shop talk” phone calls with Stephen.

On behalf of the van der Loos family we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Menno Hospital, the many families, friends and neighbours who cared and visited him during these past difficult months.

Herman will be reunited with Joy at Hazelwood Cemetery in Abbotsford.

A funeral mass celebrating Herman’s life will occur at 11am on Saturday March 28, 2026 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with reception to follow.