Hendrick Smit

It is with great sadness that the family of Gerrit Hendrick “Henk” Smit announces his peaceful passing on Friday, October 1, 2021, at the age of 92, at his home in Atikokan surrounded by his children.

Henk was born on July 15, 1929 in Scheveningen, The Netherlands to Marinus and Jannigje Vermevlen- Smit, one of 12 children. There, by the North Sea he grew playing on the beaches and in the sand dunes with his brothers and sisters, which is where he first found his love for the outdoors. Many, many tales have been shared with ‘us kids’ over the years of their grand adventures, including, Henk’s first attempt to come to Canada. There, as a young boy, he and two of his brothers decided to row to America, which ended abruptly with an overturned boat, and hero status by the school ‘Master’ principal, much to his father’s chagrin, who wanted the boys punished. Dad was innovative, adventurous and that extended through his lifetime. Henk was shaped by his childhood and youth having been raised Dutch Christian Reformed, survived the Nazi occupation of Holland, and the Hunger winter of 1945, being shipped to boarding schools in Germany where he described seeing many starving people being shipped in trains across country. Henk became well read, politically and religiously astute, although not religious, and from international perspectives. His positions, at times contrary to popular opinion, however well informed. Henk was principled, spoke three languages fluently, recited poetry and song at will, and could recite any biblical scripture, if asked.

As one of our beloved cousins stated, there was only one Uncle Henk, and he was fearless. Henk immigrated to Canada at the early age of 18, the first of three from his family, arriving in Halifax on the Volendam, in September 1949. He was sponsored on a farm near Owen Sound, and spent his first year in Canada milking cows. He would eventually find sponsors for his older brothers, Joop and Brum, following him to Canada. From there he lived on a farm picking tobacco outside of London, Ontario. This is where our Dad met our Mom, his beloved ‘Kryna’, aka Reiny, and they were united marriage on September 24, 1960, celebrating 65 years together. While living in London, Henk was employed by London Concrete, studied and became Chief Draftsman. There he designed the hydraulic systems that keep the cement drums on cement mixers rotating despite their great weight and load. He also designed and built the first of two homes.

Henk enjoyed a large and loving family and always added an element of fun to every experience. Life on North Street, going to visit family from his brother’s and Reiny’s, enjoying Dutch traditions, big family dinners, camping at the Pineries, swimming at beaches in Port Rowen, and Port Stanley, walking, skiing in Spring Bank Park, and galloping horses on the Verboom family farm were relished.

In 1968, Henk moved his family to Atikokan where he became a Drafting teacher. A position he was very proud of, loved and respected in. He engaged students, made friends with teachers/ janitorial/librarian and office staff alike. By the end of his career, he taught machine shop, and challenged students to design their own motors. Again, many, many stories have been shared of his innovative, ingenious and adventurous, ways, both in the classroom and out. Some students and teachers will remember his performance as the little drummer boy in the Christmas play, and many have failed the test of lifting the ball bearings.

Henk adored, was fiercely protective and very proud of each of his family, and they knew it -each for their individuality and capabilities. As he was able to convince Reiny to come to the red roads of Atikokan with the promise of a new home, he designed and built a second family home, alongside his son, Gerry. Family adventures continued as Henk and Reiny took their kids camping, (including in winter), fishing and ice fishing, and canoeing in Quetico. During summer vacations family travel was constant, with a trip to Western Canada to visit the Smit and van Soest families there, many return trips to London to enjoy holiday on the beloved farm, and for Henk’s continued study completing his Bachelor of Arts/Education. Henk and Reiny enjoyed gardening and had big gardens, including growing early with self-designed cold frames, and green houses. There, he loved his time with his grandchildren talking about plants and working with soils. He and Reiny loved hunting, along with their good friend Charlie Vidal, and later hunted from their rustic cabin on Crow Rock, where he designed an ice house and boat lift. After retirement, they ventured to Biloxi for many winters where he continued his long walks on the beaches, and several winter trips to Cuba with their beloved friends, Leo and Annie van der Loo. Henk loved swimming and under the watchful eye of the Atikokan life guards, he could be found swimming lengths daily, proudly swimming into his 80’s. Eventually, he retired to his back yard with ‘his Kryna” and along with a glass of wine, he could be heard reciting, ‘this is the Babylon that I built’.

Henk was a proud Mason, earning his 32nd Degree, and was Grand Master of the Atikokan Lodge.

Henk entrusted his health decisions to his family doctor, Dr. Sara van der Loo, Brenda Hainey, ND., his granddaughter, Jaqueline Bruce, RN, and was always so appreciative of Jennifer, Nancy and Val’s (PSW’s) continued care in the home.

He will be greatly missed by his children Norine Fadyk (Michael), Gerry Smit (Diana), Veronica Gosselin (Claude) and Joanne Smit (Michael Meade), daughter-in-law Debbie van Soest; grandchildren Nich (Denise), Darryl, Scott, Corey, Carmen, Jacqueline (Shaun), Nicole, Brian, Michelle, Harrison, Callahan (Cassie), and Alisha (Matt). Numerous great grandchildren, and great- great grandchildren; brothers: Jacob Jan, Theo, and sister: Janna who reside in Holland; Smit families that live in south western Ontario and in Eastern and Western Canada; and the Verboom family, north of London.

Henk was predeceased by his wife Reiny, on September 6, 2021; son, Robert; brothers: Leendert, Johannes, Marinus, and Albertus; sisters: Margaretha, Gerda, and Elseje.

Cremation has taken place and Henk will be laid to rest with Reiny in Little Falls Cemetery in Atikokan, Spring, 2022.

Henk was passionate about children/youth having enough to eat. A prayer he shared at every family celebration was simple and very poignant. ‘When millions of people go to bed hungry tonight, may we be truly thankful.’ If friends/family so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Atikokan Food Bank, Nutrition on weekends Program for Students, Atikokan, ON. Canada. P0T 1C0.

Our dad left us with this:

When life has ended and my time has run out.

My friends and my loved ones, I leave them, No Doubt!!

One thing is for certain.

When it comes my time.

I leave this ‘ole world’, with a satisfied mind.