Martin MYNEN

Martin Mynen

November 28, 1933-March 27, 2019

It is with a heavy heart that we share the sudden passing of Martin Mynen on March 27th, due to a cardiac arrest. Martin was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was predeceased by his son Marcel, brothers Dick, Jan, Rinus, and sister Karolien; and his parents. Martin is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Marianne; his daughters Simone (Steve Lombardo) and Mieke (Marcus Haywood), son Dick (Dorothy) and daughter-in-law Dina; grandchildren Tonianne (David Okano), Stephanie (Kevin Hautcoeur), Christina (Dave Marchand) and James; great-grandchild Ripley .Okano; nephew Arnt (Diana) Veltum and their children Mick and Ilja, and close relatives in Quesnel. In Holland he will be missed by his sisters Truus and Irma (Henk Veltum) and brother Jos, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Martin was born the middle child of eight siblings in November 1933 in a small village north of Amsterdam. Despite the chaos, trauma, and hunger during the war years, he and his family survived intact. He spent his childhood playing on the dike in front of the family home and teaching himself to make things, and by the time he was of school age he knew that he wanted to be a cabinet maker. Working with his hands was Martin’s great joy in life, but if you were to ask him what he was most proud and happy about, he would instantly name his wife, Marianne, as the greatest love of his life. Family lore says he knew he wanted to marry her the first time he met her in Grade Two.

Martin’s obligatory two-year service in the Dutch military introduced him to yet a third love: flying. Although it was a brief part of his life, the excitement and freedom of soaring in the clouds above Holland and sneaking across borders stayed with him forever.

By the time Martin and Marianne had four children, he knew he was ready for more challenges and adventures, and he took his family to Canada, settling in Prince George in 1969. Here he made his dream of designing and building his own house come true, twice. He passed on his love for the natural beauty of this huge gorgeous country to his children, and many happy holidays were spent camping with the family, starting with a rented tent trailer, and ending with a comfortable RV during his retirement years. Family get-togethers around campfires became an annual tradition that grew in scope as the family grew larger, creating memories we all treasure.

In 2010 Martin and Marianne moved to Deep Bay on Vancouver Island, closer to their two daughters, but further away from Dick and the rest of the family. Here nature continued to bring him great peace and wonder, especially the tall firs and roaring ocean. His favourite bird was the eagle and he envied them their wings; we are sure he now has his own and is soaring.

The family would like to thank the staff at Stanford Seniors Village, especially the care and kindness given to him by the care aides and nurses and recreation staff; he always had a smile and a friendly word for them, and they returned his vibrant zest for life with compassion and affection.

His passing has left another deep hole in the family, but we are proud and grateful for all he has given us; we will miss him. There will be no service, though the family has a private ceremony planned later this month. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.

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