John Meulpolder

Jan “John” Meulpolder

Peacefully, on Saturday, December 12, 2015, John Meulpolder passed away with family by his side at the Portage District General Hospital at the age of 86 years.

His first love was family with farming coming in a close second.  Loved and cherished, sadly missed, fondly remembered and mother’s ever loving husband.  A life well lived.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years Adriana; children Debbie (Ron Scott) Verwey and John (Jacqueline) Meulpolder; grandchildren Steven (Tiffany) Verwey, “The Girls” Deanne (Travis) Foster, Jan (Luc Poulin) Verwey, Christine (Brad McLachlan) Verwey, Katerina Meulpolder and Adrien Meulpolder; great-grandchildren Jordan, Tennyson, Mitchell, Elliot, Riley and Brooks; brother Kees (Ma) of the Netherlands, along with many nieces and nephews.

John is predeceased by his parents Pieter and Adriana Meulpolder and siblings Pieter, Stoffel, Cornelia, Pieternella, Helena, Anna and Anna, all of the Netherlands.

Born and raised in the Netherlands, John married Adie and moved to Canada in 1953.  He started as a farmhand in Saskatchewan and moved to Portage in 1956 where he worked as a custodian with the Portage School Division until 1974.  In 1967 John and Adie bought their farm where they lived and worked until retiring to Portage in 2007.

John’s greatest past times were spending time with family, working on the farm with his son John, having his grandkids over for the weekend to explore and “help”, celebrating all birthdays, anniversaries and holidays.

A Celebration of John’s life will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 3:00 pm. As per John’s wishes, the celebration will continue at Tornado’s Restaurant & Lounge at 4 pm following the service.  Interment will take place at a later date in the columbarium at Evergreen Memorial Gardens

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in John’s memory to the Portage District General Hospital Foundation, 524 Fifth St.SE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3A8 or a charity of one’s choice.

The family would like to thank all of the staff, Doctors and nurses at the Portage District General Hospital for all of their help and compassion.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  204-857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com