February 7, 1936 to September 4, 2014
Passed peacefully away on September 4 following a stroke.
Hank was born in the Hague, Holland and served two years in the Dutch Navy as an electrician. He came to Canada in 1957 and worked in Toronto at several jobs until he finally secured a position in the installation department at Northern Electric, now Nortel, where he worked for over 35 years. His many innovations there continue to be used today.He and his first wife Lauraine had two children, son Rick and daughter Cheryl and her husband Lawrence. Lauraine passed away in 2000.Hank was very clever with his hands and for many years he built and flew model airplanes with the Derry Fliers Club, where he served as president for several years. As a young boy he learned to fish with his father in the Dutch canals, and enjoyed this hobby in Canada, where he and his second wife Joan fished for bass on Lake Simcoe, in one of several boats they owned over the years. He also enjoyed ocean fishing, the climax of which was to land a 160 pound tarpon in the Florida Keys.
Although Hank presented a tough-guy image, he had a heart of pure gold, especially when it came to young children and dogs, who found him irresistible.He leaves behind his wife Joan, son Rick, daughter Cheryl, step daughter Shelley Carter and her partner Mark Lai, stepson David Carter and his wife Rebecca, grandchildren Stefani and Nicole van Daalen, Naomi and Severin Lai, Nickolas and Duke Carter, and his brother Jan van Daalen in Holland. Visitation will take place at The Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home, 280 St. David St. South, Fergus on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 from 11:30-12:00pm. A Memorial service for Hank will take place at 12:00pm in the Funeral Home chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated. www.grahamgiddyfh.com 519 843 3100.