John (Johan) Veen

We are greatly saddened to announce the death of John (Johan) Veen at the Deep River and District Health on Sunday, May 31, 2026.

Events in one’s life shape a person. 

John was born in the Netherlands in 1924.  At the age of 4 his family moved to Indonesia where his father worked in the colonial Dutch government.  John’s happiest memories are of exploring the wilds and volcanoes of Indonesia and these early adventures were a catalyst for a life of exploration.  Following four years of internment during the war, John returned to the Netherlands as a young man to finally complete his high school and higher education.  The confines of the Netherlands sent him on a journey to several countries, but he finally landed in Canada.  Soon after marrying Ellen, he quit his job as a mechanical engineer to pursue an education in forestry.  This new career eventually led him to Deep River where he raised his two daughters and worked at Petawawa National Forestry Institute.  His love of the forest passed on to his children and grandchildren, and he was always walking and biking around town; the car was for longer trips.  You could always find him in a canoe, on his cross-country skis, in his sailboat, at the woodworking club or his garden plot at Grouse Park.  Following retirement, John lived in Tanzania every winter for 20 years where he focused on community projects and supporting individual youths with their education and career goals.  John valued supporting causes he believed in both locally and internationally, in this his generosity was most apparent. He lived modestly and gave freely.

John was most comfortable being uncomfortable, always stretching his physical endurance and mental constructs, challenging those around him in the process. His gruff exterior protected a sweet and gracious man, increasingly visible in recent years. He was curious and perpetually asked questions with the purpose of also provoking and stretching others’ thinking.  He didn’t enjoy small talk and wanted to go deep in every conversation.  John was on a lifelong spiritual quest. His regular church attendance did not limit his reading of other religious texts and investigations into alternative perspectives. He was an avid reader, researcher and chronicler all which culminated in several memoirs and a children’s book which he published at the age of 100. John loved the arts and quietly knew a great deal about paintings, classical music, ballet and opera.

John Veen died at the age of 102 years.  He was a formidable father to Claire Bonner and her husband, Chris of Stittsville, and Hilary Veen (Tom Moore) of Deep River, and remembered by his former son-in-law, Richard Wilson; caring grandfather of Andrew (Kourtnii) and Christopher (Chelsey), Ester (Aaron), Eva, and Thomas (Aksel).  Great grandfather to Callan.  John is predeceased by his ex-wife Ellen, brother Paul and sister Anne, both of The Netherlands.

A huge shoutout to the staff at Deep River and District Health for their compassionate and outstanding care.  They truly went over and above.  The family is also grateful for the long-standing care of his Home Care nurses and support workers who were an integral part of his day-to-day life.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 25 at 11:00 am at the Deep River Community Church followed by reception at the CEC Centre. 

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