Obituary for Mr. Hendrik "Henk" Storm
Hendrik Storm
1926-2021
A Prayer
Dear Lord…thank you for the gift of Hendrik (Henk) Storm who left us on May 6, 2021. He was a beloved husband and ”ouwe sok”, Dad, Opa and working class hero/philosopher. Thank you for his 94 years. (He might complain a little that he was less than two weeks short of his 95th birthday, but please know he was still grateful for outliving his ancestors.)
Left to celebrate Henk’s life are his wife Trudy, his son John (Denyse), his daughter Marion, by his grandchildren Justin Hendrik (Allie), Stephanie (Jordan), Chantal (Jim), Andrea (Chris), Alana (Nathan), and by great-grandchildren Summer , Adam, Kiera and by Jack. Standing with the family in both celebration and grief is a long line of extended family and friends stretching from Strathcona Ave. and the shores of Shebandowan to Henk’s country of birth, the Netherlands.
The COVID pandemic has denied him a traditional funeral and farewell. But then again Henk disliked most funerals. He never understood why those left behind attempted so often to confer sainthood upon the deceased. Indeed he would never have appreciated unwarranted holy status for himself. He often said that he was not better than the worst among us - but also not worse than the best.
For his transgressions then, please forgive him. He loved to boast that in his youth he used his martial arts training to pile his opponents one on top of the other like cordwood. (Truth be told, however, he never hurt anybody or anything.) He also tended to be the loudest and most vocal at family events. His political rants would on occasion overwhelm the proceedings - but then again his exuberant laughter usually brightened them. He was also remarkably stubborn in his beliefs. He became most impatient with anyone who challenged his notion that governments needed to compel the wealthy and the advantaged to support and lift up the poor and the marginalized. Lastly, he succumbed occasionally to spiritual anguish. He could not understand how misery and suffering could be allowed to prevail so often and so triumphantly in our world - and Yours.
But, once again, thank you for his full and memorable life. Thank you for saving him from his death sentence at the hands of Nazi occupiers during WW II. Thank you for sustaining him during his serious injuries in life - especially those from a near fatal recreational dive and from a perilously high workplace fall. Thank you for the many joys he experienced in scuba diving, sailing, guitar playing, campfire singing, travelling, building a home and renovating a camp. Thank you for his “golden hands” as described by his sister. He could repair anything, craft exquisite metal work and solve any mechanical problem. During his early years in the marine corps, his gifted hands helped rehabilitate the injured; in later years he worked his fingers into providing miraculous massages. (And yes, we believe in miracles.)
And finally thank you for gifting him with such a capacity for love. He loved his beloved Truus who was his guiding light from adolescence to old age. He loved his family dearly and felt so blessed to live, see and cherish his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Finally, he loved people. He was an unabashed extrovert who found great joy socializing with, listening to and helping out others.
Helping himself these past few years, however, became increasingly challenging. He would have preferred to skip the challenge of his dementia, but he never complained about this burden. He knew his life had been blessed. He was grateful. We are grateful. And we can only hope and pray he has found his well deserved peace and rest with You.
Amen
Funeral arrangements are in care of EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma
1926-2021
A Prayer
Dear Lord…thank you for the gift of Hendrik (Henk) Storm who left us on May 6, 2021. He was a beloved husband and ”ouwe sok”, Dad, Opa and working class hero/philosopher. Thank you for his 94 years. (He might complain a little that he was less than two weeks short of his 95th birthday, but please know he was still grateful for outliving his ancestors.)
Left to celebrate Henk’s life are his wife Trudy, his son John (Denyse), his daughter Marion, by his grandchildren Justin Hendrik (Allie), Stephanie (Jordan), Chantal (Jim), Andrea (Chris), Alana (Nathan), and by great-grandchildren Summer , Adam, Kiera and by Jack. Standing with the family in both celebration and grief is a long line of extended family and friends stretching from Strathcona Ave. and the shores of Shebandowan to Henk’s country of birth, the Netherlands.
The COVID pandemic has denied him a traditional funeral and farewell. But then again Henk disliked most funerals. He never understood why those left behind attempted so often to confer sainthood upon the deceased. Indeed he would never have appreciated unwarranted holy status for himself. He often said that he was not better than the worst among us - but also not worse than the best.
For his transgressions then, please forgive him. He loved to boast that in his youth he used his martial arts training to pile his opponents one on top of the other like cordwood. (Truth be told, however, he never hurt anybody or anything.) He also tended to be the loudest and most vocal at family events. His political rants would on occasion overwhelm the proceedings - but then again his exuberant laughter usually brightened them. He was also remarkably stubborn in his beliefs. He became most impatient with anyone who challenged his notion that governments needed to compel the wealthy and the advantaged to support and lift up the poor and the marginalized. Lastly, he succumbed occasionally to spiritual anguish. He could not understand how misery and suffering could be allowed to prevail so often and so triumphantly in our world - and Yours.
But, once again, thank you for his full and memorable life. Thank you for saving him from his death sentence at the hands of Nazi occupiers during WW II. Thank you for sustaining him during his serious injuries in life - especially those from a near fatal recreational dive and from a perilously high workplace fall. Thank you for the many joys he experienced in scuba diving, sailing, guitar playing, campfire singing, travelling, building a home and renovating a camp. Thank you for his “golden hands” as described by his sister. He could repair anything, craft exquisite metal work and solve any mechanical problem. During his early years in the marine corps, his gifted hands helped rehabilitate the injured; in later years he worked his fingers into providing miraculous massages. (And yes, we believe in miracles.)
And finally thank you for gifting him with such a capacity for love. He loved his beloved Truus who was his guiding light from adolescence to old age. He loved his family dearly and felt so blessed to live, see and cherish his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Finally, he loved people. He was an unabashed extrovert who found great joy socializing with, listening to and helping out others.
Helping himself these past few years, however, became increasingly challenging. He would have preferred to skip the challenge of his dementia, but he never complained about this burden. He knew his life had been blessed. He was grateful. We are grateful. And we can only hope and pray he has found his well deserved peace and rest with You.
Amen
Funeral arrangements are in care of EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma