Obituary of Joe Overmars
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OVERMARS, Johannes (Joe)
May 1, 1925 - May 2, 2024
Our family is saddened to announce the end of a life both well loved and well lived. The day after his 99th birthday, Johannes (Joe) Overmars died peacefully on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at AgeCare long-term care home in London with his wife Tiny and daughter Marilyn by his side. He leaves behind his loving wife, Catherina (Tiny), of 70 years; children Gail (Rick), Marilyn (Rob), Gerald (Carol), Diane (John), Caroline (Craig) and Rob (Kerri); grandchildren Kirk (Danni), Kelly (Heather), Jason (Kristyn), Derek (Alice), Jenna (Jason), Richelle (Matt), Marlee (Keegan), Erin (Brendan), Julia (Stephen), Alexa, Kyla, Nicole, Ashli and Jada; along with 15 precious great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Joe was born in Raalte, Netherlands in 1925, the fourth child of Gerardus and Maria Overmars, and brother to Anton, Annie, John, Mien, Gait, and Johan. He served proudly in the Dutch Peace Corps in Indonesia from 1946-1949. Upon his return to Holland, Joe proposed to Tiny with the dream of immigrating to Canada in search of work and opportunity. By 1954, Joe and Tiny had married, sailed to Nova Scotia, and eventually made their way to southwestern Ontario, settling in a growing Dutch community near Delaware. It was here that Joe started Joe’s Wall & Flooring, a successful business he would operate in the community for more than 30 years. It was rooted in an exceedingly strong work ethic as well as Joe’s constant attention to quality and craftmanship.
Those values would sum up Joe in all aspects of his life. First and foremost, as a devoted family man who, with Tiny, raised six children— and then beamed in watching them raise their own growing families over the years. Joe’s craftmanship could show up anywhere and everywhere, whether various woodworking projects or household fixes for his kids or grandkids, or even in taking care of the birds in the backyard, including elevating anti-squirrel protection to a higher art form!
Throughout his 99 years, Joe lived a full life that touched so many in different ways. A strong person of faith, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and both a choir member and general handyman at Sacred Heart parish in Delaware for 60 years, rarely missing a practice, a service or a job. At his core, Joe was a friend, a supporter, someone who always pitched in for a good cause or a project needing doing. Above all, he was a caring, fun-loving, always-joking Opa to his 33 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Friends are invited to help celebrate Joe's life at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 511 Cheapside Street, London on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Visitation from 10:00am-11:00 am, the Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am. Private family reception to follow. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations gladly accepted to AgeCare London, 2000 Blackwater Road, London, Ontario N5X 4K6.
