Obituary of John Peter Vis

Vis: John Peter. A resident of Chatham and formerly of Blenheim, John Peter Vis passed away at the Copper Terrace Nursing Home, Chatham on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at the age of 88. Born in The Netherlands son of the late John and Petronella (VanderLoos) Vis. Beloved husband of the late Rose (Persoon) Vis (1992). Dear father of Connie and Bryan Pardo of Markham, Roseann Wlodarczyk and Jim Burgess of Kent Bridge, Pauline Avanesi of Toronto, John Vis (Swami Bhakti Marga) of Toronto, Jerry and Joanne Vis of Peterborough, Paul and Joyce Vis of Saanichton, B.C. Predeceased by a son-in-law Arthur Avanesi (December 2007). Grandfather of Taralyn and Jordan Pardo, Jessica and Elizabeth Vis, Maggy Wlodarczyk, Ann Marie and John Vis, Alan and Alex Avanesi. Great grandfather of Dallas Bonner. Predeceased by a brother Peter Vis formerly of Chatham and by nine siblings in The Netherlands. John was a retired employee of International Harvester, Chatham. He was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blenheim and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a former member of the Blenheim Horticulture Society and was part of the Underground Resistance in Holland during WWII. John was a friendly and well-loved resident during his stay at the Chatham Retirement Resort. The family will receive friends at the McKinlay Funeral Home “Ford Chapel”, 141 Park Street, Blenheim on Sunday from 2:00-4:30 & 7:00-9:00 p.m. Parish prayers will be offered at the Funeral Home on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blenheim on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Interment Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. Donations to the Blenheim Horticulture Society or Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. McKinlay Funeral Home "Ford Chapel", 141 Park Street, Blenheim, Ontario (519)676-3451. Dear Creator, About Dad You struck a good balance When you linked the leaf and petal Came a man of heart and muscle Smooth as silk, hard as metal. With pride he told his pastimes Of a place of mills and dikes Life was simple then and there Moving on skates and wheeling on bikes. Folks then bore brutal war Watched the stock market crash Lost jobs but not nerve - Convictions could never be smashed. He left the land below sea level For a promised place remote Atlantic waters rippled by Wanderlust was his virtual boat. He walked us down the outdoor trails But inside told of birds and bees He gave us each those daily chores And how .to milk the cows with ease. He grew those plants with his green thumb. Toiled decades on the assembly line With different strokes he cracked those jokes. He was just fun-loving all the time. Patience he learned in a very hard way He gave us our choices in life Our music was not to cope with It gave him some stress and strife. His was a full life of colour Sporting half a beard and wooden shoes.. He was extraordinary and yet ordinary An upbeat dad you thought you'd never lose. He married a lady called Rose They passed through fragrance and thorns. They begot two guys 'n two gals Then a twin was newly born. His heart froze in the land of the petal His body lies in the land of the leaves Oh Creator, rest his soul in heaven He was born to give and born to please. - In Loving memory of John P. Vis (Sr.) 1919 -2008 Bhaktimarga Swami Aka John P. Vis (Jr.)