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Henry Venneman Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Henry Venneman
20 Entries
December 22, 2010
Dale Currie December 17 at 7:40pm Report
Henry's Untimely Passing
Stella just sending condolences to you and your family. It was a complete shock to all who worked with Henry. It was a sad day at the plant for everyone. Wishing you all well in your time of grief.
Dale.
Robbie Birks & Henry, circa 1968 (courtesy of P. Birks)
December 22, 2010
December 21, 2010
Our condolences.
It is very shocking to hear of the unexpected death of Henry. It will be a very difficult time for uncle Anton and the family. We wish you all the strength you need in these difficult times.
Jan en Gemma Kiemel-Venneman
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
Tribute to Henry
To know Henry was to know a man who danced to his own drum. He was a character. Sometimes he was the guy that went along with everything. Sometimes he was the guy who laughed his head off when something struck him funny. He was a quiet and reserved kind of guy but when he laughed, you couldn't help laughing with him. Sometimes he was the stubborn guy and there was no moving him. Once in awhile the lovable Henry would make an appearance. And sometimes there was Henry the lost soul, who needed a break from the demands of the world.
I wish everybody could have known Henry as a child. If you’ve only know him as an adult it may be hard to believe but he had a real joi de vivre about him. He had a zest for just about anything. As kids, we lived in the country and our parents gave us the gift of being able to roam free. He and Gary and all the boys around were always making forts in the forest or in the giant snowbanks, making boats out of scraps of wood and sailing them in the creek, riding bikes, swimming at Heart Lake, playing in the barn, skating on dad’s home made ice rinks in the backyard. He liked the country and he liked working on farms. When he was 5 & 6, he and Gary in the summer would get up in the morning and tell mom they had to go to work, and go and help the farmer across the street. In high school, Henry worked for Mr. Reid, the farmer around the corner, who called him his right-hand man - he liked that.
Work was one of the constants in Henry’s life, he always worked. For most of his professional career he was a printer, and I think he pretty much did the rounds of all the printers in the Brampton/Mississauga ending up full circle at McLaren, Morris, Todd, the company he started with.
Henry was intelligent and curious but the school system was not for him. I think this poem he wrote when he was about 13 sums it up:
I go to school, it is a bore.
I go to sleep with a snore.
Teachers make the world so sad.
They just make me boiling mad.
Teachers, teachers everywhere teachers.
I wish they turn into ugly creatures.
He was smart though, and when he wanted to apply himself, he did with a vengeance. Henry was an avid horticulture enthusiast, starting at 17 in mom’s flower garden. Henry wasn’t that much of a reader of anything else but he had a bookcase full of agriculture and organic chemistry books including university textbooks.
The other books on Henry’s shelf were on photography. The artiste in him came out in pictures. Like every artist, he was way too self-critical but he had a good eye for it and his photographs were beautiful. His favorite subjects were his kids and the country.
Henry was a simple man who really didn’t want much out of life. Pretty much what he liked in life was his kids, his horticulture hobby, photography, playing cards, and sleeping. And a good meal - give him a good steak or ribs and you saw a happy man.
We always had the best times with Henry playing cards. He loved playing cards and games. One of his favorite card games was Hearts and he would always try to go for control and when we caught on to him, it was just that more fun for him.
Henry was as human as the rest of us. He had his moments of anger, could be infuriatingly stubborn, frustratingly non-commital. But that just masked his vulnerability and sensitivity. His dark blue eyes told the real story. If you took the time to look into his eyes, you could see the paradox that was Henry:
His intelligence yet irrationality
His sensitivity yet his indifference
His brusqueness, his gentleness
His buoyancy, his melancholy
His apathy, his enthusiasm
Easygoing, intransient
Placid, frenetic
Artistic, humdrum
Selfish, unbounded generosity
You know, these days we as a society honour the wisdom to live a true and authentic life. Henry did – and think most people didn’t appreciate that about Henry. It was hard to see because it didn’t match society’s expectations or followed conventional behavior but if the true definition of an authentic life is about being true to yourself, then Henry was an authentic man. What you saw is what you got and you pretty much always knew where you stood with Henry and what you could expect from him. Henry lived his life doing what he enjoyed, not do anything he didn’t want to do, and drifting with the current on the rest.
Henry’s biggest struggle was that he was a loner but didn’t like to be alone. He wanted the freedom to do what he wanted within an envelope of acceptance and unconditional love. Each of us tried in our own way and I know that Henry would want everyone to know he appreciated it and thanks you.
Tears are the most outward sign of love you can give someone so be not afraid to weep for Henry. But let’s also be happy for him. He is at peace now. And Henry always found refuge and solace with mom so now he is with her and God, enveloped in their unconditional love, free to just be.
We love you Henry and you are with in our hearts forever - the Venneman family
How you can show support
Xmas 2008
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
August 2005
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
August 2001
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
Xmas 1993
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
Summer 1992
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
August 1988
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
March 1980
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
Summer 1970
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
Oct 1961
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
Oct 1960
Mary Venneman
December 21, 2010
December 20, 2010
Hello "uncle" Anton and family,
Condolences to the sudden death of your son an your brother Henry. We wish you lots of strength with the loss and hope you still remember the many goos moments together. We live with you.
Mies Peters - Venneman and daughter Ria
Jim Bakker
December 18, 2010
My thoughts are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort. Sincere condolences.
December 18, 2010
Dear Uncle Anton, Mary, Gary, Paul, Louis and family,
We wish all of you much strength.
Otto en Bernadet Kolkman-Venneman
Noortje-Guus-Wieke
Lia Britton
December 18, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers are for all family members who loved him. We wish our heartfelt condolences to the family. I will miss my cousin very much. May he rest in peace with God forever.
love to our cousin ....... Lia and Wayne Britton xoxoxo
rose and mario malfa
December 18, 2010
I can only think back to the times Henry and I share would share afunny moment in our lives. He will be missed by all that knew him.
December 18, 2010
There are no words right now, to express the sorrow you are feeling. Know that our thoughts and prayers for peace and comfort are with you.
Rob and Kim Henderson and family.
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