Derk Jebbink

It is with sorrow that we announce the passing of Derk Jebbink on Saturday February 2, 2019, age 90 years.

Missing him are his loving children Peter Jebbink (Rosemarie), Ortillia Aleida (Lydia) Steeves (Ron), Josephine Ann (Jo-Anne) Lane (Chris), Richard William Jebbink (Cheryl), and Carolyne Whenham (Blair).

Also missing him are his sisters Wilhelmina (Willy) Jebbink; Juliana (Juul) Schwager; sisters-in-law Anneke Koppe (Joop), Leny Bleijenberg; ten grandchildren Olivia and Petra; Catherine and Jennifer; Eva (Chris), Benjamin, and Eric; Brayden and Kara Ann; Deanne; great grandchild Gabriel; and his nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Dina (Ine), and his parents.

Dick was born in Rheden, The Netherlands.  He completed high school in Velp after the Second World War, followed by post secondary education at the University of Dordrecht obtaining a Degree in Electrical Engineering.  His sister Willy had a best friend , and it is through Willy that he met Ine his wife for 66 years.

Ine and Dick married on December 19, 1951 and immigrated to Canada, departing The Netherlands on March 1, 1952 aboard “The Ryndam” to enter Pier 21 in Halifax.  After obtaining landed immigrant status they boarded the train leaving for Vancouver.  Dick worked a few odd jobs and soon found a permanent position with BC Sugar.  This position took them to the Dominican Republic for five years, where his son Peter was born.  They returned to Canada when the political scene changed.  They then spent many years living in numerous towns engaged in the pulp and paper industry.  They first lived in Port Alice where Lydia and Jo-Anne were born, then Port Alberni where Richard and Carolyne were born.  In subsequent years, they moved to Vancouver, Kitimat, Nanaimo, Vancouver again, and finally Miramichi, New Brunswick.  They finally retired in Kelowna, moving one more time in their senior years to be near their daughter Lydia, in Ottawa.

Dick was a determined person and found fulfilment in his work. The pulp and paper industry was booming through 1950 to 1980, and he worked for some of the prominent companies of the time including; Rayonier, MacMillan Bloedel, Eurocan, Boise Cascade, and Repap.  He started in the pulp and paper industry by working on construction projects which lead to working in operations.  By 1960, he had obtained his First Class Power Engineer Certificate.  In the early 1960s, recovery boiler explosions were frequent.  In an effort to combat this hazard, the pulp and paper industry in North America combined their knowledge to develop the operating practices and procedures that form the basis of those in use today.  Dick was part of this drive, serving as a member and Chairman of the Black Liquor Recovery Boiler Committee, for many years.  While working for MacMillan Bloedel, he was the resident expert on recovery boilers and paper machine installations, travelling extensively for the company.  Dick was restless and goal oriented.  He continually sought work at the higher levels of an organization but always in the plant.  The politics of the office were not his strong suit.  This drive took him from the west coast to the east coast of Canada.  Dick was particularly proud of his achievements in the Miramichi.  The mill in Newcastle went through several turns of fortune.  One of the strong times was when he served as Resident Mill Manager, overseeing a multi-million dollar project and operating mill concurrently.  He implemented quality and productivity improvements that had not been seen in the plant before his time.  In 1985 he was recognized with the Paul Harris Fellow Award for his contribution to progress in the Miramichi.

Dick had three loves in his life.  The first was his wife and family.  The second was the love of dogs. He always had a dog to accompany him, and each one kept him active as the years went by.  His third love was fishing.  He started fishing later in his life, but once the hook was set, this became his form of relaxation.  He would be on a lake for hours at time.

In Dick’s senior years he succumbed to short term dementia.  In lieu of flowers, COPE Service Dogs (www.copedogs.org) has been chosen as the charity to support, in light of his second love.

The family greatly appreciates the loving care provided by the staff of the West End Villa.