Obituary

86, of RR2, Harriston, passed away peacefully at the Palmerston & District Hospital on Wednesday, December 5, 2018. He was born on August 23, 1932 to Reint Jan and Woltera (Brummelman) Wassink at his family’s farm in Schalkhaar, Holland. He is survived by his wife, Roelie (Kerkdijk) Wassink; his three children: Ron Wassink and wife Alexandra of Elora, John Wassink and wife Emmy Lou of Gowanstown, and Joan Laferriere and husband Reg of Hepworth; seven grandchildren: Lyndsay and Curtis John, Mark and Vanessa Wassink, Jerusha and Dan Scott, Jared and Meg Wassink, Ian Wassink and Christine Nesseth, Julie Wassink and Justin Jacobs, and Zack and  Nicolette Wassink; and nine great-grandchildren: Ainsley, Aaralyn, Calia, Kyler, Weston, Ryker, Declan, Maverick and Landry. Reint is survived by his brother, Wolter and Reina Wassink; two sisters, Riek Wassink and Reinie Steezel; and many nieces and nephews, all residing in Holland. Reint was predeceased by his parents; one sister, Mina Temmink; and three brothers, Fre, Gerrit and Berand Jan. Reint was 12 years old when Canadian forces liberated his village from occupying German forces in April 1945. He completed four years of agricultural college studies at the Landbouwschool in Twello, and at the age of 22, emigrated to Canada in 1954. When his fiance, Roelofje (Roelie) arrived in Canada, they married three weeks later on April 16, 1955 in Drayton. The couple purchased their 100-acre farm in Minto Township in 1959 and operated their dairy farm until retirement. Reint and Roelie became proud Canadian citizens in the late 1960s. They participated in many community events and parades with their “klompen” dance troupe, and were amateur actors with their Dutch compatriots, performing plays in the Dutch language on-stage at the Harriston Public Library and the Harriston United Church. Reint was very musical and played the coronet in a stage band in Holland. Later, he delighted family and friends many an evening, playing the mouth and button harmonicas at home. Friends called at the Hardy-Lee Funeral Home, Harriston on Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00pm. The funeral service took place at Knox-Calvin Presbyterian Church, Harriston on Monday, December 10 at 11:00am with Rev. Kathy Morden officiating. Interment in Harriston Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation or to a charity of preference are gratefully appreciated. Online condolences may be left at www.hardyleefuneralhome.com