Suddenly, the Lord took unto Himself, my dearly beloved husband, Bill. Predeceased by our infant son, Shaun. Predeceased by his parents, William Wiersma Sr. and Ebeltje Terpstra. Brother of Elco & Ann Wiersma, John & Jane Wiersma and sister, Sylvia. Brother-in-law of Ria & Theo TerHorst, Corrie & Mark Zylstra, Sim & Truusje Berkelaar, Coby & Bill Zandbergen, John & Marylin Berkelaar, Henny (deceased 2020) Berkelaar & Dave Feronni, Anita & Henry Hogeveen, and Gilbert Berkelaar & Sheri Getz. Loved Uncle of all of his nieces and nephews. Due to COVID restrictions, there will be no visitation. A funeral service will be held by invitation only at Turner Family Funeral Home, on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 1:00p.m. Livestream details will be on the Funeral Home’s website. Private Interment at White Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations to World Renew or the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.
Floyd, Murray John – Passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2021 in his 91st year with the love of his life and family by his side. Beloved husband of Bess (nee Shaw) for over 69 years. Predeceased by his eldest daughter, Christine (Bernie). Loving father to Barbara (Laverne), Donna (Brian) and Beverley. Proud Papa to 8 grandchildren and their spouses as well as 17 beautiful great-grandchildren. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews. Murray served in the military for 25 years, serving in the RCASC Battalion 2 and was a long-time and well known member of the RCL Branch 36. A private Memorial Service will take place on Friday, February 5th at 11:00a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the RCL Branch 36 would be appreciated.
Klaus passed away peacefully, with family by his side, on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario in his 86th year. Beloved husband to Lorna for almost 52 years. Loving father to Norbert (Teri) of Dunnville, Kevin (Kim) of Dundas and Kathryn (Patrick) of Dundas. Cherished Opa to Jayce, Jennifer (Dylan), Katelyn (Alex) Keely, Korey, Kearan and Kole. Double Opa to Kyla and Aliyah. Predeceased by his brother Herbert Janitz. When Klaus first came to Hamilton from Germany, he worked as a Lithographer at Paper Board Boxes, then a few years later at Reid Dominion Press and retired from Howell Packaging. Klaus and Lorna met at the Germania Club in Hamilton and raised their family in Dundas, Ontario. A sincere thank you to the staff at St Joseph’s in ICU West, especially Dr. Cook and nurse Rachel for their caring support. Arrangements are entrusted with the Turner Family Funeral Home in Dundas, and a private family service will take place on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 1 p.m. If desired, donations to HBSPCA or Doctors Without Borders would be appreciated. A live stream will be available during the funeral and after the service.
Mullan, Margaret – Peacefully at home on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, in her 84th year. Beloved wife of the late John, and dear mother of Georgina Price (Robert), Michele Kajah (Ed Dacunha) and the late John Jr. Sadly missed by her daughter-in-law Sandra Giles, her brother Robert in Northern Ireland, 9 grandchildren; Jennifer (Richard), Sabrina, Johnny (Cassandra), Wendi (Manni), Bryan, Jordie (Marina), Michael, Jessica (Terry) and Carianne (late Grey), 14 great grandchildren, her many friends, and family in Australia and Ireland. Predeceased by her brother Geordie. Margaret was a surrogate Grandma to many Foster Children over the years. A private service for Margaret will be held on Friday, January 29 at 2 p.m. at the Turner Family Funeral Home, 53 Main Street, Dundas, with interment to follow at Hamilton Cemetery. Donations in Margaret’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.
(Professor) Josephine P. Meeker passed away peacefully, of Covid, on Monday, January 11, 2021 at St. Catharine’s General Hospital. Josephine was predeceased by her loving husband and soulmate of fifty years, Donald Measner, who died in May, 2018. She is survived by her sister Rosemary Walton (Ronald) and her nephew David (Karen) Walton in Hamilton, her niece, Wendy Nelson in Toronto and many nieces and nephews in the United States.
Born in Hamilton in 1930 to William “Bill” Stanley and Edythe Meeker, Josephine was the elder of two daughters. Her father was active in the Hamilton business community and practiced community pharmacy throughout his lifetime. Her parents instilled in Josephine a love of the arts and supported her aspirations for high academic achievement. Her beloved grandmother (and namesake), Esther Josephine Scott, encouraged her to learn to play the piano and by age 4 she was performing at public recitals. During their childhood, Jo accompanied her sister, a talented singer, on piano during concerts at the Hamilton Conservatory of Music and other venues.
Josephine was a proud graduate of the then fledgling McMaster University and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1953. Josephine remained actively engaged in the University as a member of the alumni over the years, attending Class Reunions including the most recent 65th Reunion held in 2018.
After McMaster, she began her teaching career at Hill Park Secondary School in Hamilton where she was responsible for the United Nations (UN) Club, chaperoning numerous student trips to Washington and New York and cultivating her passion for intergovernmental and global affairs.
By 1960, Jo had continued her graduate studies in geography at Indiana University and Columbia University in New York City, where she met her future husband, Donald. During her studies in New York City, she continued her work with the United Nations. After completing her graduate studies at Columbia, Josephine returned to Canada to continue her teaching and academic career at Brock University in 1965, shortly after the University was established. Josephine was the first female Faculty member hired by Brock University, an honour she wore with pride.
After returning from work abroad in Turkey, Donald reunited with Josephine and they married at the McMaster University Chapel on June 22, 1968 and settled in Thorold, Ontario. They enjoyed many years of being geographers together. Theirs was a 50-year marriage between two true kindred spirits. Their days were filled with joint geography projects and they were avid travellers, both for leisure and academic purposes. Their historic home was a venue for international students living “in residence”, for study groups and lively gatherings where students and faculty joined together with their large cadre of family and friends. Donald reigned in the kitchen, enjoyed cooking and playing host to their guests. Josephine sparked engaging conversations and often entertained by playing her beloved grand piano.
Similar to her passionate support of McMaster University, Josephine was proud to dedicate her career to the growth and development of Brock University from 1965 through retirement in 1996. As a committed academic leader, over the years, Josephine was instrumental in development of Brock’s School of Continuing Studies and the Women’s Studies Programme. As well as serving as Professor in the Department of Geography, she was appointed to the University Senate, where she served a term as Chair. During her time at Brock, she used her skills in geography when appointed as a member of the Niagara Escarpment Commission, working diligently to increase awareness and protection of the Niagara Escarpment.
Josephine was a passionate teacher and mentor, ardently committed to her students and colleagues, with whom she maintained many lifelong friendships. Ahead of her time, Josephine was a pioneer and trailblazer for women in academia and was extremely proud of her career as a woman geographer. She was admired by all for her independence, keen intelligence and fierce determination.
Cremation has taken place. Internment of ashes will take place at the Meeker Family Plot in Hamilton Woodland Cemetery as well as at the Measner Family Plot in Farmington, Wisconsin. There will be a virtual celebration of Josephine’s life for students, colleagues, friends and family on Sunday, March 7 at 2 p.m. To participate, please contact the family via Wendy Nelson (wnelson@rogers.com) or Karen Walton (karen@thewaltons.ca)
Donations can be made in memory of Josephine Meeker to McMaster University Library (www.givetomcmaster.ca or call directly to 905-525-9140 Ext 24224) or to Brock University (www.brocku.ca/donate).
April 7, 1939 – January 14, 2021. Beloved by all who knew her, it is with saddened hearts that her family announces her passing at the age of 81. Barbara Mary Bishop who was known as a wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and aunt; who passed on to be with the many family and friends that have moved on before her on, Thursday, January 14, 2021. Barbara will be lovingly missed and remembered by her surviving spouse Charlie Binkley of 20 years. She will be sadly missed by all of her children Jack, Norma Sweetheart (Wendell), and Jamie (Stephanie). She will be remembered by her surviving siblings Ronald, Kenny, Audrey of Saint John, New Brunswick, also by Colleen (Garrett) children of her spouse Charlie. She will be missed and remembered by her 8 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Barb was a loving, charming soul. Barb’s passion was her family. She would do anything for them, without hesitation. Her humour and kindness is what people loved most about her, making you feel like family no matter who you were. She also enjoyed playing cards and bingo with her friends and in her most recent time she liked spending time with her great-granddaughter Mia and taking her to the park. At home she enjoyed spending time walking the trails of her blueberry fields and watching the birds come to eat seeds on her porch and watching the deer in the fields. Barb (Grandma) will be forever remembered in our hearts.
“Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.”