Obituary
Maurice Henry van Nes
Maurice was born December 14, 1950 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to Anton and Clara van Nes. He was the youngest of four siblings: Patricia, Reginald and Dale. He grew up and attended school in Hepburn, Saskatchewan. In his teens he accepted Christ as his Saviour, was baptized, and became a member of the Hepburn Mennonite Brethren (MB) church where he enjoyed singing in the church choir and participating in youth group.
Throughout his years at home, he was often found at the Hepburn Trading Company store owned and operated by his parents. As is typical in a “general” store he often had general duties and functioned as clerk, shelf stocker, pick up and delivery driver, all around schekjbenjel, and whatever other jobs his Dad found for him.
At the encouragement of his Mom, he enrolled in a drafting class and found he enjoyed the challenge. He continued on to Saskatchewan Technical Institute in Moose Jaw graduating with an architectural draftsman diploma.
In high school and church youth group he met Patricia Willems and they were married August 4, 1972. Jobs were hard to find until an uncle connected Maurice with a contractor in Kamloops, British Columbia where they moved in 1973. Changes in economy forced the couple to follow construction, returning to live in Hepburn, while Maurice worked for various architectural firms in Saskatoon.
Three children joined the family in Hepburn: Derek (1977), Danelle (1979), and Dalene (1983). Despite a busy family life, Maurice took on additional duties as Mayor of Hepburn (1979 – 1986) and served on the finance and management board at the Hepburn MB Church.
During this time, Maurice was involved in the design and contract administration of banks, schools, apartments, a high-rise condominium, nursing homes, and other commercial buildings. In 1987 Maurice decided to return to school to pursue an architectural degree in Waterloo, Ontario and the family moved there the following year. While on a work term Maurice designed and supervised the construction of the Waterloo MB Church. Upon returning to Saskatchewan, he was employed as Property Manager for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation in Prince Albert. Later as almost empty-nesters Maurice and Pat moved to Saskatoon where Maurice worked for Coverall Industries and Stantec Architecture, where one of his keystone projects was the Saskatoon Soccer Centre on Attridge Drive. Another move, to be closer to the children, brought them to Manitoba where Maurice continued working for the Winnipeg Stantec office as project manager for the Winnipeg soccer centre, several public and private schools, and a funeral home before retiring in 2015. He tracked his kilometers over the years and drove over 2 million kilometers in his life time.
Maurice liked to be involved in the local church and community by volunteering on finance or facility boards at church, and with Mennonite Disaster Service. During his time with Mennonite Disaster Service he served on the MDS Manitoba board; in a hands-on fashion with the RV Program in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Florida; and in Canada at Fort McMurray, Alberta and various locations around Manitoba. He was instrumental in designing and building a new tool trailer for the Manitoba MDS unit.
Some of Maurice’s favourite times were spent with Pat travelling North America by RV or travelling the world by cruise ship, eventually visiting over 56 countries. What a wonderful and diverse world God has created! Maurice’s favourite hobbies were woodworking in the garage; designing plans for prospective buildings; helping the children with projects; reading and watching Jeopardy on TV. He loved Pepsi, any kind of pie with ice cream, A&W teen burgers, and had a weakness for Cracker Barrel, Famous Dave’s Barbeque, and Olive Garden Restaurants.
Maurice could always find a story to tell and often sprinkled them with idioms:
“He’s as sharp as a sock full of soup”
“You make a better door than a window”
“Ten pounds in a five-pound bag”
And for especially stiff-headed Dutchmen
“Wooden shoes, wooden head, wouldn’ listen”
“If it ain’t Dutch, it ain’t much”
Maurice’s favorite hymn was Wonderful Grace of Jesus especially the bass lines. His favorite scripture verses were from the book of John, verses 1, 2, and 27:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.
In my Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.
I do not give as the world gives. Do not let yours hearts be troubled, do not be afraid.
Maurice always loved the encouraging words of Desiderata:
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons…therefore be at peace with God.
And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul…
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Maurice, we know that you are in a better place, with a healthy body, celebrating with family and friends who have gone on ahead. If you are playing games, I bet you know every answer to Trivial Pursuit! Or maybe you are telling old stories to a new audiences? Perhaps you are designing a new building with no cost limitations? Or you might be enjoying as much Pepsi, candy, or pie and ice cream as you want. Maybe you are checking out the new cruise options? Or you are visiting interesting places on your bucket list? We want you to know we will miss you, from your wife, your three children and their spouses, your seven grandchildren and extended family.
Until we meet again…
Maurice has chosen Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) as his charity of choice. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to MDS in memory of Maurice. Follow this link, and on the dropdown menu called “fund” select “In Memory of Maurice van Nes.”