Absent from the body, present with the Lord, Willem Van Hofwegen (Wim) entered his eternal home on May 30, 2024. He was a dear husband of over 61 years to Catherine (Cathy), née Ferguson.
Wim touched the lives of many with his commitment to support and encourage those of similar faith, often traveling with his family to places in Canada, the USA, and abroad. His belief that Jesus Christ came, died on a cross, rose again, and asked us to repent of our sins and receive Him by faith as Lord and Saviour—and that if we do, we have forgiveness of all our sins forever—was a driving force in his life. Although he faced challenges during the last 25 years of his life with back pain and the last couple of years with a heart condition, his steadfastness shone through.
Born in Rijswijk, Netherlands, on December 30, 1937, he survived wartime, even being run over by a milk truck that took several men to lift off him. He was the beneficiary of two lotteries run in his hometown, where young children were sent to Grindelwald, Switzerland, to be nourished back to health after those challenging times. A family tradition in Ottawa on Sunday nights involved turning out the lights and lighting one candle as he shared stories of that time with his children. Scavenging for food, eating sugar beets for all his meals, even trying to eat tulip bulbs, and helping his sisters push the stove back in front of a hiding place up in the chimney for his father, all contributed to his resilience.
In 1958, speaking only Dutch, he set out for Canada with a small amount of money in his pocket. Finding work and learning the language, his commitment led him to find a community of those of similar faith in Toronto. Meeting his wife, Cathy, they started a family. Moving to Ottawa in 1971 for improved job prospects, he worked for the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton and then the City of Ottawa following amalgamation, in a self-taught engineering position, where his proficient organizational skills were valued. An avid reader of many books and articles, especially dear was the Bible and faith-based material. He always looked forward with great enthusiasm to regular family gatherings, where singing together was a highlight.
Predeceased by his parents, Willem Van Hofwegen and Adriana Van Hofwegen, née Krijtenburg; his sisters and their spouses, Johanna and Henk Engelberts, Annie and David van Heusden; his brother, Herbert Van Hofwegen (Carry Van Hofwegen); and his grandsons, Benjamin House and Evan Poole. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Cathy; his children and their spouses: Esther and Robert House, Eric and Charlene Van Hofwegen, Joy and Tim Ruga, Harry and Angela Van Hofwegen, Miriam and Richard Poole; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: James and Julianna House (Emma, Leah, Clayton), Darren House, Anne and Howard House (Timmy, Heidi, Nathan, Lily, Pearl), Kristy and Etienne Leger (Lorianna, Amelia, Kiara, Victor), Scott and Sophie Ruga (Catherine), Bradley and Bethany Ruga (Colin), Hannah Van Hofwegen, Adam Van Hofwegen, Rebekah, Daniel, Katelyn, and Emily Poole, all of whom find solace in knowing that he is now with Christ, which is far better.
Visitation will take place on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Tubman Funeral Home, Garden Chapel, located at 3440 Richmond Rd., followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hazeldean, Kanata. Special thanks are extended to the staff at the Ottawa Heart Institute, Queensway Carleton Hospital, and Park Place Transitional Care Unit for their kind care and support.
Forever with the Lord, he enjoys eternal peace
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