Obituary for John Jacob Visser
A loving husband, father, Opa, and brother, John Jacob Visser passed away peacefully in his sleep at Didsbury Hospital on November 4, 2022, at the age of 77 years. A fixture in the town of Didsbury and surrounding area, John was known for his love of trains, ability to repair and build anything, and how much he adored his family.
Born in Den Haag, the Netherlands to Jan and Martina Visser in 1945, John was the second eldest of seven siblings. The Visser family immigrated to Canada in 1952 and settled first in Calgary and later on a beautiful piece of farmland in Westcott. John attended the University of Calgary where he graduated with a degree in Commerce. In Didsbury, he founded Crossdid Construction and worked as a contractor, satellite tech, and businessman until his retirement. In 1989, he met and fell in love with his future wife, Connie, and they were married in 1991. When John married Connie, he also adopted her daughter, Diana, and Sophie the cat. His youngest daughter, Sarah, was born the following year. John’s life was rich and full of meaning, and he spent his life working hard to build a safe and loving home for his family with Connie at his side. Being a father was his pride and joy, but he also loved travelling and going on adventures with his family, working on the 6060 steam locomotive in Stettler, Alberta with his fellow train enthusiasts, chatting with old friends over coffee, and celebrating small moments and milestones with his wife, daughters, and extended family.
John faced several health challenges, especially in the last decade of his life, but received incredible care from the staff at the Didsbury Hospital, Peter Lougheed Hospital, and Rockyview Hospital. He passed away from complications linked to cancer. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Connie Visser of Didsbury, Alberta, his two daughters, Sarah and Diana, both of London, Ontario, his beloved grandson, Theodore, and Rusty the cat. He is also survived by his sister (Sue) and three brothers (Martin, Leo, and Dennis) as well as dozens of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Rita, and his brother, Braam.
A service to celebrate John’s life will be held on Thursday, November 10 at 1pm at the Zion Church in Didsbury followed by internment at Westcott Cemetery and fellowship at the Westcott Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rocky Mountain Rail Society to support the restoration and maintenance of the Steam Locomotive 6060: The Spirit of Alberta.
Born in Den Haag, the Netherlands to Jan and Martina Visser in 1945, John was the second eldest of seven siblings. The Visser family immigrated to Canada in 1952 and settled first in Calgary and later on a beautiful piece of farmland in Westcott. John attended the University of Calgary where he graduated with a degree in Commerce. In Didsbury, he founded Crossdid Construction and worked as a contractor, satellite tech, and businessman until his retirement. In 1989, he met and fell in love with his future wife, Connie, and they were married in 1991. When John married Connie, he also adopted her daughter, Diana, and Sophie the cat. His youngest daughter, Sarah, was born the following year. John’s life was rich and full of meaning, and he spent his life working hard to build a safe and loving home for his family with Connie at his side. Being a father was his pride and joy, but he also loved travelling and going on adventures with his family, working on the 6060 steam locomotive in Stettler, Alberta with his fellow train enthusiasts, chatting with old friends over coffee, and celebrating small moments and milestones with his wife, daughters, and extended family.
John faced several health challenges, especially in the last decade of his life, but received incredible care from the staff at the Didsbury Hospital, Peter Lougheed Hospital, and Rockyview Hospital. He passed away from complications linked to cancer. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Connie Visser of Didsbury, Alberta, his two daughters, Sarah and Diana, both of London, Ontario, his beloved grandson, Theodore, and Rusty the cat. He is also survived by his sister (Sue) and three brothers (Martin, Leo, and Dennis) as well as dozens of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Rita, and his brother, Braam.
A service to celebrate John’s life will be held on Thursday, November 10 at 1pm at the Zion Church in Didsbury followed by internment at Westcott Cemetery and fellowship at the Westcott Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rocky Mountain Rail Society to support the restoration and maintenance of the Steam Locomotive 6060: The Spirit of Alberta.