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Obituary of Jan Katerberg
Jan was the 2nd born son of Jan and Klaasje Katerberg. Jan was born, a home birth, January 29, 1946 in Ruinen, Holland, in a once chicken coop that was lovingly transformed into their family home. Growing up in Holland, Jan recalls putting his thumb in between the stones of a windmill, where it was stuck until the windmill made a full rotation and was then able to get it out. Jan ran home to his mom with the tip of his thumb hanging. Jan’s mom quickly cleaned it, pushing it back together and wrapping it up. Jan’s thumb healed and remained a constant reminder of where not to stick his thumb. Another memory of Jan’s childhood in Holland, was wearing straw filled wooden shoes.
Jan, along with his brothers, Henry, Frank and their parents immigrated to Canada in 1951(Jan never returned to Holland). The family sailed on the S.S. Volandem, arriving in Quebec on June 23. From there the family headed west by train, spending their first winter in Edmonton, where they met up with family who had previously immigrated to Canada. When winter passed, they continued travelling West and settled in The Bench area of Terrace, B.C. There, the first years were very rough with no running water, holes in the walls and often waking up in the morning to everything being frozen, because the woodstove went out.
Jan had fond memories of going through the woods to his Grandma’s house. He and his siblings had no fear, even returning home in the dark. Afternoons were spent fishing on the opposite side of the river as the black bears. They did not know to be afraid of the bears, as the bears would also follow father all around the fields. Jan and his brothers were the work horses on the farm, plowing many acres of land, preparing it for potato crops. Later years, the boys were elated when their dad purchased a farm tractor.
In 1952 the number of Jan’s siblings grew with the birth of his brother Harry, followed by Rik in 1958. Family vacations were a highlight in Jan’s eyes, speaking very fondly of them. In 1962 the family moved off the farm and into the town of Terrace. The boys were awestruck with the hustle and bustle of town living, where Jan enjoyed his latter teen years.
In September of 1968 at the age of 22, Jan was involved in a major car accident which landed him in hospital, in a coma with extensive injuries, so severe Jan saw the light but was told it was not his time. Jan stayed in hospital for many months recuperating and was left with lifelong hip issues.
Jan always had a deep love for music with classic rock being a favorite. Jan’s father taught him to read Klavarskribo sheet music while playing the organ. Jan was a walking book of musical knowledge, as he could always remember names of band members and the instruments that they played.
In his teen years, Jan took up learning the electric guitar and he was instrumental in playing music at church and with friends. Jan had an interest in construction, having been schooled in carpentry, and was working for Boomer’s Construction.
In 1971, while still in Terrace, Jan married Irene, the mother of his 3 children. Christopher John was born in 1972, Jennifer Jane in 1974, and after a move to Port Alberni, Kevin Frank was born in 1976, on New Year’s Day. Oh, how he enjoyed his time with his children, playtime taking top spot. In Port Alberni, Jan went into self employment with a siding business. Following that, Jan started trucking locally, which he continued after moving his family to Irvine, Alberta where he hauled water into the oil fields, a job he loved.
In the early 80’s, after a marital separation, Jan took his trucking career into full force. In 1989, during a brief marriage to Sherry, in Edmonton, Jan came to work in Manitoba for A.T.L. Transport where he met and became a family friend of the Sokol family, (his future step-daughter). Over the course of the next 15 years Jan often spent time in Winnipeg and Hadashville with the Sokol family, leading him to develop a relationship with Cheryl’s extended family, including her parents, John and Wilma Love.
In 1994, Jan married Lucille in Minneapolis, MN and continued with long distance trucking in the United States, seldom trucking to Canada. It was at this time Jan became a permanent resident of the United States. Jan’s life was shattered when Lucille died following complications due to a brain aneurism in July of 2005.
That December he bought a house in Boswell, OK, looking to enjoy the warmer weather there. Jan and Wilma began dating in March 2006 and married July 15 at Hawthorne Hollow in St. Malo, MB, a perfectly serene, riverside setting.
December 7, 2007 was a proud day for Jan as he celebrated becoming an American citizen. Trucking with Transx, based out of Winnipeg, both Jan and Wilma ran coast to coast in Canada and the USA. Jan later worked for various other companies, his last employer being PFM, based out of Winnipeg.
In October of 2009, Jan switched his primary residence to Hadashville, Manitoba while maintaining his Boswell residence. He spent his spare time, and planned to spend his retirement in OK. Jan went on to retire in March of 2019, not knowing that issues, including his health, would drastically put a wrench into those plans, as he was unable to return to Boswell, OK.
Due to COVID-19 cancellation of appointments, Jan’s melanoma (end stage) diagnosis was not received until June 24, 2020. Jan and Wilma celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on July 15, 2020 at their home with a beautiful outdoor gathering of family and friends hosted by Jan’s stepdaughters. It was a very memorable day with special live music by grandson Johnathon Pacey, whom Jan had bought his first guitar for due to Johnathon’s interest in music.
In August, (during what turned out to be his last road trip), Jan and Wilma spent time at Corrina and Les’s cabin at Hills Resort on Lake Manitoba continuing on to Emerald Park, SK to visit Jan’s mother (who will be 100 this June 4th). Jan and Wilma had planned to head to Red Deer, Alberta from Emerald Park to visit his daughter Jennifer but with his health declining they were forced to return home.
August 29, Jan was admitted to St. Anne Hospital as he fought an infection with sepsis. It was at this time Jan enjoyed daily visits from his daughter, Jennifer, during her 10 day visit to Hadashville. After a 6 week stay on October 8, Jan was strong enough to come home with the help of twice daily home care visits. Thanksgiving was extra special as family along with Jan’s first born, Chris and wife Ashley, joined us from Fauldner, BC. We all thought with the immunotherapy, that Jan’s health was improving. Due to COVID-19 restrictions as MB was and still is in a red alert, Christmas was very quiet, but yet extra special knowing it was probably to be his last.
Jan passed away peacefully at his home in Hadashville, MB on January 5, 2021 at the age of 74. Jan was surrounded with love from his wife, Wilma, and stepdaughters, Cheryl and Paula by his side.
Jan is survived by his wife, Wilma, his mother, Klaasje, two sons, Chris (Ashley), and Kevin, along with one daughter, Jennifer (Ken), and grandson, Brandon (Lisa). Jan was excited for his grandson expecting a child in March. He is also survived by two brothers, Frank (Dale) and Rik (Marina), sister-in- law, Maribeth, along with all their families and numerous cousins. On his father’s side, there are many related still in the Netherlands.
Jan is also survived by his step daughters, Cheryl, Corrina (Les), Paula (Anthony), 10 grandchildren and their families, 2 great-grandchildren, Keiyra and Hudson (who were the apple of his eye) with another great-grandchild arriving in March, 2021.
Jan was predeceased by his father Jan, 2 brothers, Harry and Henry and by his third wife Lucille.
The family would like to especially thank Dr Guenther for taking exceptional care of Jan in St. Anne, being his primary doctor. We would like to send our appreciation to all the home care team, including nurse, Suzanne, who put their heart and soul into providing compassionate care of Jan. We would like to also thank Cancer Care in both Winnipeg and Steinbach for their care of Jan.
We, the family, are very appreciative to our families and numerous friends, also the church family of East Braintree Community Church, who have all been such a big support in dropping off meals and the sharing of their love, care and concern. We also would like to thank Pastor Peter Braun and his wife, Agnes, for their weekly uplifting visits to Jan.
The celebration of life will take place Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 11:30 a.m., at Hadashville Senior Centre with Pastor Peter Braun officiating. A hot lunch of Jan’s favorite food will follow.
