Hendrik Datema

Hendrik Datema

September 5, 1932 - June 4, 2023

Henk passed peacefully into the presence of His Lord in his 91st year.  He is survived by his wife Martha (Gazendam) and sons Roelof (Mary-Ellen) and Mark (Wilma).  Opa to Laura (Drew), Geoffrey (Ilana), Megan and Amy and great-grandchildren Jackson, Leah, Declan and Daniel.  Predeceased by siblings Mien, Fred, Hilly, Ge, Gini, and two who died in infancy.

Henk was born, the youngest of 8 children, and raised in Beilen in The Netherlands.  His father had a small grocery store in a farming community and delivered groceries by horse and buggy.  Henk served as a Medic during and after World War II and following the death of his parents, he immigrated to Canada, by boat, in 1958 and began a new life in Sarnia. He moved to Ottawa in 1961 and married Martha later the same year.

He began working at Carleton University in 1962 where his career spanned 32 years in the Greenhouses and Biology Department.  After retirement, he enjoyed being outdoors at his home in Nepean and loved watching his grandchildren grow up.

The family wishes to thank the PSWs who helped to care for Henk at home and the amazing team at the Montfort hospital for their kindness, skill and care.

A funeral Service will be held at Calvin Christian Reformed Church on Friday at 11 am.  Burial at Pinecrest Cemetery.

Henk very much appreciated the work of Hope and Healing International ( formerly The Blind Mission) and donations would be much appreciated in lieu of flowers.