Obituary of Johannes (John) Cornelis Schalk
Peacefully on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at St. Joseph’s Hospice (London) after a brief battle with brain cancer, Johannes (John) Cornelis Schalk in 81st year. Beloved husband of 55 years of Antonia (Toni) Maria Verdaasdonk. Father to Ed and his wife Karan, and Peter. Opa to Ben, Blaine and his partner Sarah, and Great Opa to Liam Johannes. Survived by siblings and siblings-in-law Bets (Frans), Nel, Riet, Corrie (Martin), Coba, Jaan, Riet (Will) and Tony (Wilma), all of the Netherlands. Predeceased by his brother Kees, and by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Theo, Kees (Cor), Hein (Rieka), Sjef and Cor. Born in Strybeek January 3, 1935, raised in Galder, he met the love of his life, Toni, in 1953 at a dance. They married May 3rd, 1960 and immigrated to Canada on May 5th. They settled in London, Ontario and together owned and operated Davis Greenhouses on Riverside Drive for 43 years. John was a founding member of the Ontario Flower Growers Co-op. After his retirement, he built his dream home on the farm in Delaware where he enjoyed feeding his birds, entertaining his friends, gardening, playing cards and bowling. His smiling face will be missed by many as he takes this next journey in his life. Relatives and friends will be received by the family at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London on Sunday from 2:00 – 4:00 and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., with prayers at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. GEORGE PARISH, 1164 Commissioners Road West, London on Monday, March 23rd, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery. The family would like to thank the Nurses and Doctors on Neurology Sciences wing on the 7th floor of University Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Hospice (London) for their exceptional care and understanding. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations to St. Joseph’s Hospice of London or the Brain Tumour Foundation would be appreciated by the family.
