At Seaforth Community Hospital on Sunday, March 21, 2021 of Seaforth at the age of 88. Beloved husband of Margaret “Peg” (McLeod) DeJong for 46 years. Dear father of Elizabeth DeJong of London and Esther DeJong of Toronto. Much loved grandpa of Zara Finlay of London. Proud great grandpa of Rhea, Maximus, and Mason. Brother and brother-in-law of Jan DeJong (Maria) of Spain and Corrie DeJong (Jan) of Holland. Dirk will be fondly remembered by his nieces and nephews.
He started his working career with a shovel and wheelbarrow but with a lot hard work and his desire to get the job done, he was proud to retire as a Superintendent. Over the years he has been responsible for various heavy construction projects across Canada with Gaffney Construction and Armbro/Aecon Construction. During his working years he was a mentor to many and he enjoyed a nice cold beer after a long day. After retirement, Dirk filled his days with puzzles, tending to his garden, and watching curling and all other sports on tv.
Cremation has taken place. If desired, donation to the Seaforth and District Horticultural Society would be appreciated by the family.
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Ann (nee Bannon) & Erwin Marchl
Dear Peg & Family
We are sending our Deepest Sympathy upon Dick’s passing. I remember what a kind, fun loving man he was while I was growing up & also, as our neighbour to my parents Margaret & Peter @ 53 Wilson. We always thoughly enjoyed his beautiful tulip gardens in the spring. My parents had great fun getting together with both of you for a good laugh & a drink!
Sending warmth & strength during this difficult time ….Ann, Erwin & Family 🌷
Helen Ayers
Sending love from the Eastern Georgian Bay Ayers Vander Welles!
Although it has been years since seeing Dick I know that he was a good man, a man of principle and he treated us with respect and a sense of humour.,
Sending virtual hugs to you Margaret, Elizabeth and Esther and to all the great and great great grandson!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Barb Lougheed
Hi Peg, Delmer and I are very saddened to hear about Dick! Lots of happy memories!❤️Bless you all!
Cheryl Vandenheuvel
So sorry to hear of Dicks passing. Our condolences to peg and the family. Your neighbours Rein and Cheryl Vandenheuvel
Wilhelmina and Joe Laurie
Words cannot express our sadness to hear of Dick’s passing this past Sunday. We have all lost touch unfortunately, though this Covid lockdown, and hoped to once again spend some time with him. We will never forget Dick’s unwavering support of the NDP over the years, his beautiful gardens and the way his Dutchness made be feel so at home! We are glad he got to enjoy some of the nice weather in weeks past and will think of him as the tulips come out this year. Once again our sincerest condolences from your NDP family and from Joe and myself.
Colin and Jennifer Vennema and family
Our sincere condolences to you Peg and the entire family. We have so many fond memories of our Uncle Dick as we referred to him. The drives to the Farmers Dell in Brucefield for milkshakes, letting us drive his car in the field at the farm in Kippen and the nicknames he had for us all just to mention a few. Such a great guy who we will always remember .
Wanda & Milton Dietz
Dear Peg and family, we were sorry to hear of Dicks passing, you will miss him. Our thoughts & prayers are with you.
Wanda & Milton Dietz
Carlyle and Penny Meikle
Peg we are so sorry to hear about Dick . Condolences to all the DeJong family. We did enjoy the happy hours that took place. Sending hugs
Ken and Joan Campbell
Dear Peg: I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Dick. As I drive by your place I would often look to see what Dick was doing in the garden. It was a pleasure to see what was blooming at that particular season. A thank you to you and Dick for all the work you have done throughout the town to enhance the many flower beds.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time.
Carmen & Anette Scarrow
Oh Peg, we’re so very sorry to hear about Dirk. Our hearts are breaking for you and we are thinking about you during this sad time. Much love and hugs. xoxo
John Binnendyk
What a shock! I thought Uncle Dick was one of those guys who would would always be there. I remember his fabulous cars. And I remember cousin Al and I stealing smokes from his car. Wow. Time moves on
My condolences to everyone.
Love John
Joan Spittal
Peg and Family
Paul and I were very sorry to hear about Diick’s recent death. Peg, you and Dick were great neighbours, and enjoyed spending time together for Happy Hour.
Please accept our condolences to you and your family.
Paul and Joan Spittal
sharon walter
My sympathy to Peg & the family . Dick will be missed by so many . A good man & a good neighbour !
Mary Dearing Forrest
To Peg, Elizabeth, Esther and families I extend my deepest sympathy.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Grace
Peg, I’m so sorry for your loss. Dirk was a wonderful man!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Blessings, Grace and Wayne Wiggins
Jeanette Connolly
Dear Peg and family,
My deepest condolences to you . My heart aches for your loss. Dick was a lovely man. Bask in the memories you have and let them be your guiding light ♥️
Carolanne Doig
Peg and family – so sorry to hear of your loss. Cherish the memories and the good times.
Betsy & Lorne Bakker
Dear Peg and family, I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Dick. Sending our condolences all the way from BC. I always enjoyed a visit with you and Dick when we were home to Seaforth. He was such a kind man and great family friend.
Sending you all hugs and perhaps when all this Covid is over we may get together.
Agnes Bregman
Dear Peg and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time
So many wonderful memories! – the wonderful garden, the summer visits outside, the family celebrations which were always enjoyed by Dick.
My family- Robert & Sharon, Joanne & Harvey and Chris ans Vince also extend their condolences.
Brenda Mayes
I’ve never met Dirk, but heard of him. A long time ago, when he was a young man, he roomed and boarded at my grandparents farm in Castlemore (outside of Brampton) with Joseph and Clara Parr. My Mom, Helen, reconnected with Dirk in the last 20 years and always intended to have another visit with him, Based on the stories posted here, I wish I had met him. Darn this COVID. Our condolences to Dirk’s family.
Eric & Arlene McIntosh
Sorry to read of Dick’s passing. Our sympathy to Peg and family at this difficult time.
Mary and Anne McGregor
Dear Peg and Family:
We extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Joanne Shoveller
Dear Peg and family
Very sorry to hear about Dick’s passing, a difficult time for all of you.
He was such a good neighbour to Trish, Paul, Sarah, Ian and Sam, good to have entertaining visits with Mom (Jane Rimmer) and a wonderful community contributor.
Wishing you strength during these challenging days, may the good memories bring you peace.
Sending on Mom’s behalf too.
Jane Rimmer, Joanne, Herb, Aislinn, Ben and Ally
Anne Harrison
When I first moved to my Centre Street home in 1994, I admired and felt inspired by the beautiful garden two doors down from me. I decided to take up gardening, which has brought me great joy and fulfillment to this day. For this. I thank you, Dick. Both of you were always the best of neighbours.
My thoughts are with you, Peg,, and I offer my condolences to you and your family. I hope to see you soon.
Jayne and Brad Walsh
Sincerest condolences to you Peg, Elizabeth and Esther. Dick was a real gentleman. So sorry to hear of his passing. ❤️
Joyce Doig
Dear Peg and Family: My thoughts and prayers are with you. I first met Dick at your wedding reception at the golf course and immediately saw a smart, kind, generous man who so loved you and your family. Lots of wonderful memories will see you through the sad days ahead. Joyce Doig
Ken Papple
Peg and family -my sincere sympathy in the passing of Dick. He has been a wonderful example of a dedicated volunteer and passionate gardener who was always ready to encourage and share his expertise. His legacy will live for many people.
Jill Bryant
What sad news for all of us. Many things will always remind me of Uncle Dick, and even now when there are tears, lots of the memories are full of smiles and laughter, because, of course, he laughed loud and smiled often. His handshake was firm and his hugs were big. Hugs that made you know he appreciated you coming for a visit.
I remember good food shared with family, lots of us squeezed around a table, and Dick’s arm outstretched topping up the wine. I remember gardens, wheelbarrows and potted plants outdoors, sitting and visiting on the porch, sipping a beer on the patio, and the sound of kids playing nearby. Dick always raised his hand to wave and nod to neighbours, and I know he had many friends.
He would tell lots of stories about building roads and bridges. (I was always certain he was very respected on any job site and was the kind of person anyone would feel honoured to have worked with.) Didn’t he work on the bridge to PEI and the 407 across Toronto?
I remember him coming up the driveway in his red pickup truck after working quietly, on his own, in Gramma’s yard, then coming inside for tea, and being fussy about what kind of cookies he had. He liked sugar cookies. Once I brought a lemon pie to Peg and Dick’s and he said, you make it right with lots of sugar!
It is going to take a while to understand, and all the more sad with COVID, when we can’t gather and hug and support one another.
It is a beautiful day today and the spring flowers are starting to bloom. When the tulips bloom this spring, I’m sure we will all remember Dick, and every spring.
He really was a good man and I am lucky to have had him for an uncle. I will miss you, Uncle Dick.
Alice Hiusser
So sorry for your loss Peg and family. May God hold you all close at your times of need and peace.
Jim & Brenda McIntosh
Dear Peg and Family: We will greatly miss our good friend, Dick. No more card games or friendly
arguments over Fords and those other kind of vehicles. His beautiful red tulips are a sight to see
every springtime. from Jim and Brenda McIntosh.
Susan and Rob Nigh
Dear Peg and family, Dick was always full of laughs when he stopped by the house . And we have many fond memories of him at Mary’s. He had so much knowledge to share we will miss him. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Marilyn and David Norman
Dear Peg,
We will always remember the true friendship of Dick and yourself that began when you welcomed us to Seaforth seventeen years ago and helped us to become fellow members and participating volunteers of our horticultural society. We will miss him !
John Chow
Condolences to Margret DeJong and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. It is a very sad day for us to receive news in the passing of Dick DeJong. We will dearly miss him.
I always will remember Dick as smiling and happy person. He was very easy to work with on any construction project. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to work with Dick at Armbro Construction. We did may projects together. He was a friend, colleague, mentor and a great project team leader. He was available to help anyone. All the people that were fortunate enough to be associate with Dick became a better person.
Dick was able to use his experienced and was very successful at everything he did.
As a young engineer, I learned so much from Dirk. He pointed me in the right direction to succeed. I am very thankful for his help in my career at Armbro/Aecon. I will never forget Dirk as a person that helped me travel the journey of life.
Trudy Groothuis
Dear Peg,
I’m so sorry to hear of Dick’s passing, he was such a wonderful person. I know you will miss him deeply, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Liz Moir
Dear Peg and family,
My sincere sympathy with the loss of Dick. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kevin, Debbie, Cody,Morgan,Sarah,Haden Bennewies
We are deeply saddened to hear our very special neighbour had passed away. What started off as three small boys each taking there turn to cut Dick’s lawn over many years quickly became weekly fun conversations and life lessens they would get from Dick. We will miss Dick and his many conversations and big smile that has left a mark on all of us here. Our sincere condolences to you Peg.
Kevin,Debbie,Cody,Morgan,Sarah,Haden
Helen McNaughton
Peg and family
I am so sorry to see of Dicks passing.
My sincere sympathy to all.
Mike Albani
Dear Peg and family,
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dick was a mentor and life-long friend to me, and he will be missed. I was fortunate to have worked for him at Armbro Construction, helping him build some of the many bridges he constructed across Ontario. He enjoyed the marine bridges and always had helpful insights for young engineers to be watchful of. He was trusting, very practical, and although he didn’t touch them he willingly accepted the use of computers on projects starting in the early 90s because he could likely see it was the new way of doing things, and he was open to that. I’m grateful to have known Dick and will miss him.
Trish MacGregor
Our hearts are very heavy as we mourn the loss of our good friend and honorary grandpa “Neighbour Dick”. When we moved into Seaforth 20 years ago, it didn’t take long to discover what wonderful neighbours we had. Dick was always patient and caring with the kids, making each of them feel special in their own way. He was wonderful to chat with and he taught all of us a great deal. Dick taught the kids tips and tricks to gardening, how to make a cucumber sandwich and the joys of drinking ginger ale out of fancy glasses on the patio. He celebrated their birthdays and all of their milestones. To me, he was a genuine, caring neighbour who made our days happier just because he was part of them. He will be missed so very much, but we will carry his smile, his caring and the memory of his gentle laugh in our hearts always. Dick worked tirelessly to make the flowerbeds radiant and beautiful, but our very favourite part of their yard was the patio where many chats were shared. Our thoughts are with you all during this difficult time. May shared stories and wonderful memories help to bring you comfort in the days and weeks ahead. Love Trish, Paul, Sarah, Ian and Sam
Ann (Rivers) |Preszcator
Dear Peg and Family:
My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.
Gary Bryant
Peg and family: Dick was one of the most cheerful and congenial guys around. It was good to see him at the celebration for Mary. I’m sorry to see this notice.
Gary