Obituary of Derk Harmen Veldman

Veldman, Derk H.

Derk passed away in Perth on Tuesday April 1^st, 2025 in his 81^st year.  He was son of the late Jansje Achterberg and Harmen Veldman and brother of the late Janni Keates.  Derk was the cherished husband of Wenda Maleita (Gilchrist) and father of Tanya (Mark) Fisher, Tony “Anton” (Renee) Veldman and Melissa (Hugo) Boilard.  He was the beloved grandfather of Joshua (Danyelle) Fisher, Duncan (Frida) Fisher and Hannah Fisher, Meghan (Cole) Veldman, Madison Veldman, Tilly, Scarlette, Porter and Mabel Boilard.  Great grandfather of Jensen, twins Daxton and Deakon, Fisher.  Derk was the brother of Gerrit (Diane) Veldman, Walter Veldman and Wilma (Kim) Synder. He will be fondly remembered by his brother-in-law Tom Keates,  nieces Cathy Keates Hostetler Margaret Keats  nephews Christopher (Erin) Veldman, David (Lesley) Veldman, Gordon (Laura) Veldman, Tim (Anita) Dickson and Richard Dickson, all his family and many friends.  Derek was born in Ommen The Netherlands (Holland) at the end of the 2^nd World War on his father’s birthday.  He emigrated to Canada in 1952 with his father and mother, sister Janni and brother Gerritt.  His two younger siblings were born in Canada.  He did his electrical apprenticeship with I.B,E,W, (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) in Kingston .  He then worked for TransCanada Pipelines as a gas technician for 13 years until leaving to go home to Joyceville to take over the Veldman family dairy farm.  Derk, Wenda and the children worked together on the dairy farm for 10 years.  He decided to go back to pipeline work with Trans Canada and finished his working career between pipeline inspection and electrical construction with I.B.E.W. until his retirement at the age of 72.

Friends  may pay their respects at the Blair & Son Funeral Home, 15 Gore St W., Perth on Saturday April  5^th, 2025 from 1:00 P.M. until service in the chapel at 2:00 P.M.  A Celebration of Derk’s life will follow in the Blair & Son Family Centre.  In remembrance, memorial donations to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (C.H.E.O) or the Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital Foundation (Perth site) would be appreciated.