It is with great sadness the family of John Joseph Willemen announces his passing on Saturday  June 25th, 2022 at the Lorne Memorial Hospital, Swan Lake, MB, at the age of 77 years.

He will be missed by his children, Nico (Darlene) Willemen of St. Alphonse, MB, Kim (Brendan) Kaminsky of Brunkild, MB and Kelly (Pam) Willemen of Swan Lake, MB, their mother Angela, sister Yvonne Jonk of Bruxelles, MB.

Grandpa Johnny/Papa John will be missed by his grandchildren, Alex (Sadye), Mackenzie, Tyler, Delaney, Kirsten, Spencer, Alyssa, Danik, Maxim, great granddaughter Stefanie and step grandchildren Jarrod and Kathryn.

John was predeceased by his parents Alfons and Helene (nee VanDeynze), parents-in-law Adrien and Greta Doyon, brothers-in-law Henk Jonk and Don DeBaets, and by nephews Brad and Patrick Jonk.

John was born on his dad’s birthday May 10th, 1945 in Swan Lake to Alfons and Helene Willemen and grew up on the family farm northeast of the small scenic town of St. Alphonse.

He married Angela Doyon in 1968 and raised a family of three. In 1994 he moved to St. Alphonse where he was active in the community including looking after the church furnaces, clearing snow and tending to the cemetery.

Dad kept himself busy doing all kinds of carpentry work over the years.  His love for woodworking continued throughout his life and many have enjoyed the numerous pieces of woodwork he has created.  He also enjoyed playing baseball with his children in their younger years.

He remained active farming whether it was on the home farm with his son Nico or at his sister and brother-in-law’s farm helping to do field work right up until the summer of 2021.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday July 5, 2022 at 2:00 pm in the St. Alphonse Catholic Church with Father Vincent Lusty as Celebrant.  Interment will take place in the St. Alphonse Parish Cemetery.

The family is grateful to HSC, Boundary Trails, Homecare workers and the nursing staff at Crystal City and Swan Lake Hospital for their care and compassion and who took great care of dad over the last year.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to in John’s memory to Cancer Care Manitoba, 1160-675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V9 or to the St. Alphonse Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, Box 27, Cypress River, MB R0K 0P0 or to the St. Alphonse and Area Foundation, Box 44, St. Alphonse, MB R0K 1Z0.

Online condolences can be sent to the Willemen family by visiting www.willmorchapel.com.  Jamieson’s Funeral Services of Glenboro – Holland in care of arrangements.