Obituary of Harry Hiemstra

Harry Hiemstra was born on November 1, 1939, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands; and died in London, Ontario on May 12, 2024. He grew up with 5 brothers (Chuck, Allan, Ollie, John, and Sid) and 5 sisters (Riemie, Riek, Edie, Nellie, and Delia). He lived his early childhood years in Wierum, in Friesland, and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1948. The clan lived in Chatsworth, Camlachie, and London. He graduated from Medway High School in 1957 and then went to Calvin College in Grand Rapids for a year. 

He was married to Adriana Pegels Rowswell from 1961 to 1981, and was common-law partner with Susan Mickle from 1984 to 2001. He married Nancy Roy Tanguay in 2003, and they lived
in Brampton and Kitchener. Nancy passed away in 2016, and Harry continued living in Kitchener until the opportunity arose to move to the Dorchester Terrace Retirement Home in 2020. He had a special friendship with Valerie Stuy, a fellow resident at the Terrace. His health declined gradually and he moved to the Dearness Home in London in 2022, and he passed away following a brief illness, at Victoria Hospital in London.

He was father to Robert (Janet) Hiemstra, Daniel (Pearl) Hiemstra, Laurie Hiemstra, and Susan (Mike) Wagenveld. Stepfather to Simon (Heidi) Tanguay and Alex Tanguay. He was a proud grandfather of 13: Adam (Emily), Colin (Andrea), Jeremy (Bridget), Michael (Christine), Sara (Nathan), Dawson (Jessica), Joel (Hannah), Rachel, Shawn, Sean, Ian, Alex, and Jacob. He was also a proud great-grandfather of 8: Jack, Gavin, Cole, Audrey, Rhys, Simon, Elise, and Edmund. He was uncle to over 50 nephews and nieces in his extended family.

He worked as a banker, an oil company manager, and a security supervisor. His employers were the Bank of Montreal in London, Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton; Dalton Fuels in London; and Suncor and Ontario Power Generation in Toronto. He loved playing golf, and organizing the Hiemstra family tree records. He enjoyed coaching his children’s sports, and was an avid reader and crossword puzzler.
A memorial service and luncheon reception will take place at Good News Church at 476 Clarke Road in London on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 12:00 noon.