John S. ‘Jack’ Gibson

 

A resident of the Williamsburg area for the past 24 years, Joe Vogrig passed away at Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Saturday, October 6, 2012.  He was 80 years of age.

Joe was born in Grimacco, Italy, on March 12, 1932, to his parents Antonio and Teresa Vogrig.  

Joe’s talent for singing and dancing, as well as his quick sense of humour and charm, made him the life of many parties. 

He sang with the Coro di Alpini in Ottawa as well as with his wife, Clara, with beautiful harmonies typical of his birthplace in the hills of Friuli Venezia Giulia, in Italy. 

Although Joe grew up in a Slovenian community in Italy, he spent time working in Belgium, leading him to speak four languages fluently: Italian, Slovenian dialect, French and English. 

Joe was also a talented artist. His numerous woodcarvings have been displayed in many cultural exhibits in Ottawa, viewed by many with great admiration. A portion of his work has been entrusted to the Unione Emigranti Sloveni del Friuli Venezia Giulia, who is honoured to have such an magnificent demonstration of its cultural heritage.

Joe was passionate about sports, especially soccer and hockey, and his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. He was an amateur boxer in Italy. He was admired by many in Italy and here in Canada for his height, earning him the nickname, “Big Joe”. 

Joe was a valued construction worker, having helped build many homes, offices and structures enjoyed in Ottawa today.

Joe is survived by his wife of 56 years, Clara, and his children Isabel Cheney of Winchester, Susanna (Tony) Prinzo of Ottawa and Anthony (Sandra) Vogrig of Winchester. 

He was the proud grandfather of Tracy (deceased), Carmela, Carla, Nadia (John), Giacomo, Jeff and Cristiano.  

Nonno Joe will be fondly remembered by loving family and dear friends in Canada and Italy. 

He was predeceased by his parents Antonio and Teresa Vogrig and his brothers Aldo and Antonio Vogrig. 

A private family funeral service was held at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Saturday, October 13th at 1 p.m. with Father Cosmas Ajawara officiating.  

For those wishing to honour Nonno Joe, please consider a donation in his memory to Winchester District Memorial Hospital. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.

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John Williams Merkley passed away peacefully at Winchester District Memorial Hospital, on Friday, April 19, 2013. He was 89 years old.

John was born in Matilda Township on June 22, 1923, to Henry Merkley and the former Jesse Shaver.  

During his 89 years of life, John worked in the logging industry, helped in the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway,  and drove for Caldwell Linen Mill. He also did mechanical work in various garages, some of this while farming near Iroquois.  

Between all that he married his beloved wife Pearl Keeler, October 4, 1958, in Smith Falls. After retiring John and Pearl built a new home at Pages Corners near Williamsburg, where they lived for the past 36 years.

During their 48 years of marriage John and Pearl snowmobiled and travelled across Canada,  and vacationed in Jamaica which became his favorite pastimes. John also enjoyed reading, solving puzzles and playing solitaire. 

John is survived by his sister Allie McKee of Iroquois and his sister-in-law Ann and her husband John Hamiaux of RR1 Morrisburg. 

John will be fondly remembered by his many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and many friends 

John was predeceased by his wife of 48 years Pearl, his parents Henry and Jesse and his sisters Mary Pritchard, Jean LaVallee and Lois Champagne.  

Friends called at the Marsden McLaughlin Funeral Home in Williamsburg, on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.  

Funeral service was conducted at the funeral home on Monday, April 22, 2013, by Rev Janet Evans. Spring interment will be at Spruce Haven Cemetery in Brinston.  

Pallbearers were John Hamiaux, Jeff Hammiaux, Francis Lapier, Mitchell Lapier, Dennis McKee, Devin Swank, Scott Keeler and Adam Hill.  

Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com. Donations to the Winchester Hospital or the Ontario Heart & stroke Foundation were gratefully acknowledged by the family.

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A resident of the Hartford Retirement Home, Morrisburg, for the past six years, Grietje Hansma (nee Barels) passed away at Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.  She was 96.

Grietje was born in Holland, on February 24, 1916, to her parents Hendrick and Grietje Barels (nee Rebbers). She completed elementary school and then stayed home to help care for her younger siblings and work on the family farm. 

She grew into a young woman who loved the farm and who loved music and dancing. In her early 20’s, she contracted and miraculously survived diphtheria.

On May 1st, 1941, Grietje married her former neighbour Obele Hansma and together they had five sons Henry, Roy and Oebele in Holland, and Garth and Toney in Canada.  

Together with her husband’s family, Obele and Grietje worked the Hansma farm in Spier for 11 years before deciding to expand their own horizons in Canada. 

In 1952, Grietje, Obele and their three sons boarded the S.S. Veendaam with all their belongings to move to Prescott, Ontario. There they worked for nearly three years before purchasing Erwin Haggerty’s farm in Toyes Hill. where they moved with their four sons on the coldest day of 1955. 

It was here that they became members of the United Church of Canada in Winchester Springs, and remained members for the rest of their lives. They proudly became Canadian citizens in 1959. 

Obele and Grietje remained on the farm until their semi-retirement in 1973, when Winchester came to be their new home. 

Part-time jobs at the United Church and then at Ault’s Foods kept them just busy enough until full-time retirement in 1983. Grietje remained in her home in Winchester until 2006, when she moved to the Hartford Retirement Home.

Grietje was a devoted wife and a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. 

Grietje is survived by her children Henry (Thelma) of Morrisburg, Roy (Sharon) of Winchester, Oebele (Janice) of Morrisburg and Garth (Ginette) of Toyes Hill.  

She was dear sister of Kiny Beekelaar and Ubelina Bies, both of Holland.  

Grietje will be fondly remembered by grandchildren Dean (Marilyn), Rick (Sarah), Shelley (Tim), Tracey (Marc), Tania (Terry), Phillip, Melanie and by great-grandchildren Chase, Ty, Tyler, Brittany, Tony, Ariabella, Brianna and Kiahna. 

Also survived by nieces and nephews.  

She was predeceased by her husband Obele, her son Toney, her twin infant sisters Tjoukina and Hillegina Barels, her sister Rika Barels, and her brothers Roelof, Teunis, Wilte and Arend Barels.     

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Friday from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of the funeral service at 11 a.m.

The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Arlyce Schiebout.  

Interment followed at Maple Ridge Cemetery, Chesterville.  Pallbearers were Dean Hansma, Rick Hansma, Tania Tapley, Melanie Hansma, Chase Beaudry and Ty Beaudry.  

Donations to Winchester Hospital would be gratefully acknowledged by the family.  Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.

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