Obituary of John Gerrit Gosselink

GOSSELINK - John Gerrit passed away Aug. 2nd 2008 in Regina at the age of 63. John was born in the southern Netherlands in 1945. He immigrated with his family to Canada in 1953. He was raised and educated in Prince Albert, attending Prince Charles School and Riverside Collegiate. John learned to be a skilled craftsman working along side his father from a very young age. He became a Jack-of-all-Trades, master of many; carpenter, plumber, electrician, mechanic and welder. John had a strong work ethic and helped his parents build their homes and built two lovely homes for his own family in Prince Albert and Swift Current. From his mother he inherited a 'green thumb' plants thrived under his care. John loved dogs and was loved by Toby, Ralph and Buddy. John's great love in life was sports and he was a natural. He played high school football and basketball, curled and golfed and was a great hockey player. When he was 17 he was playing in the WHL for the Prince Albert Mintos when unfortunately the Minto Arena burned down. Although he then received an offer to play with the Yorkton team, his family believed that education was more important and he went on to University. John then played broomball with the Victoria Hospital Men's League in Prince Albert, and with the Sr. Men's Hockey League in Swift Current and although it was suppose to be 'nocontact', there always seemed to be a bit of 'contact' when John was playing. John was a kind and loving father, always encouraging his son's activities and coaching many of his baseball and hockey teams. John first worked as a Shift Engineer at the NorthPark Center in P.A. and then at the Yorkton Union Hospital and later at the Victoria Union Hospital in Prince Albert. In 1976, he accepted a position with the Sask. Gov't of Inspecting Engineer with the Boiler and Pressure Vessels Branch in Swift Current. During the next 18 years he became respected throughout the southwest corner for his high standards with regard to the Codes and Practices. John transferred to the Regina office in 1994, working first as a Codes and Standards Inspector, then as Manager of Inspections for the Southern Region. He was working as a Design Survey Engineer when illness forced him to go on disability in 2006 after 35 years. Throughout his career he continued taking courses pertaining to his field and improving his knowledge. John was also a mentor to the Co-Op Students who were placed in his office. John will be mourned and sadly missed by his son John Vance Gosselink and daughter-in-law Sonja Horte of Vancouver, ex-wife and friend Lynn (Phil) Hall, brother Dirk and sister-in-law Linda of Prince Albert, two nephews Steven Gosselink of Saskatoon and Brian (Rene) Gosselink of Edmonton, uncle, aunts, nieces and nephews in the Netherlands and all his friends in the office. He was pre-deceased by his Mother Dirkje (Maatkamp) and his father Johnannes Gosselink. The family would like to thank Olga and Don of Olga's Care Home for the wonderful care they gave John. Please join them in a celebration of John's life at Speer's Funeral Chapel in Regina on Thursday, August 28th at 2:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Sask., 279 Third Ave. North, Saskatoon, SK. S7K-2H8. Online condolences may be sent to http://www.speersfuneralchapel.com