VAN ANKUM

Our loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother John Van Ankum of Rimbey, Alberta passed away at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at the age of 86 years.  He will be deeply missed.    

God, church, and family were always the most important parts of John’s life.  His family will forever treasure their memories of a man who loved the west country, open fields, and the wide open sky.  John leaves behind his best friend whom he married almost 62 years ago on May 18, 1962, his loving wife Sonja; his children, son Arnie (Susanna) of Rimbey; son Barry (Cyndi) of Airdrie; and daughter Claudette (Mike) of Nanaimo, British Columbia; as well as his treasured grandchildren Tyrell, Hayden, Valerie, Ainsley (Joel), Joah, Jayce, Kate (Jay), and Elsa; and two precious great-grandchildren Malayah and Landon.  He is also survived by his brothers George, Arnie, and Jake, all of Drayton, Ontario; his sisters-in-law Audrey, Millie-Jean, Jayne, and Marlene, all of Drayton, Ontario, and Barb of Delburne, Alberta; and his brother-in-law Hank of Vilna, Alberta.  John was predeceased by his mother and father Janna and Arend; two brothers Alan and Hilbert; four sisters-in-law Jean, Margaret, Janneke, and Alice; and three brothers-in-law Arend, Bert, and Bill.

"May the road rise up to meet you, John.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields…

And until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

A Service in Celebration of John’s Life will be held at the Hoadley Evangelical Missionary Church, Hoadley on Monday, February 26, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor William Knelsen officiating.  A Family Graveside Service took place at the West Haven Cemetery, Rimbey on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

For those who wish to watch the live-stream of John's service, please visit this link hemc.church/live

If desired, memorial donations in John’s memory may be made directly to the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre, c/o the Rimbey Hospital Legacy Committee, Box 440, Rimbey, Alberta  T0C 2J0 (www.rimbeyhospitallegacycommittee.com); or to the charity of one’s choice.  Thoughts and messages to the family may be shared through the condolence area located at the bottom of this page.

Service and Burial Arrangements for the Late John Van Ankum entrusted to the care of