Passed away peacefully on August 13, 2024. Paul was in his 87th year.
Survived by his wife Sylvia (nee Wiebenga). Beloved father of Terry (Dave) Favrin, Susan (Martin) Pennings, and Hank (Joanne) DeHaan. Grandfather of Sarah Favrin, Michael Favrin, Brent (Roxanne) Pennings, Talea (Nelson) Pereria, Paul (Tabitha) DeHaan, Elaine Van Dyk, and Alex (Alyssa) DeHaan. Great-grandfather of Jane, Cody, and Liam Van Dyk, Colton and Erika Pennings, and Fredrick DeHaan.
Paul was born October 17, 1937, in Lexmond Holland. He is the third son of Hendrick and Audrey (Van Eyk) DeHaan. He was predeceased by siblings Peiter, Jane, Jack, Maggie, Nelly, and Audrey. He is survived by his beloved brother Peter (Mary) DeHaan.
In 1954, Paul and his family arrived in Chatham after immigrating from Holland. This is where he and Sylvia met and later married on February 27, 1959. They enjoyed more than 65 wonderful years together. They moved to Guelph in 1966 where Paul enjoyed a fulfilling career as a professor at Conestoga College where he taught welding, fabrication, and blueprint reading. Many of his students went on to have successful careers and still speak highly of Paul, long after his retirement.
Paul enjoyed entertaining family, traveling, painting, and gardening. Paul and Sylvia took many memorable cruises and trips with friends and family including Hawaii, Aruba, Egypt, China, Spain and Turkey along with many trips back to Holland. They were also Florida snowbirds for over 25 years. Their children and grandchildren often visited them over the years making beautiful family memories together.
One of his greatest pleasures in life was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Paul was a family man through and through.
We would like to thank the caring and dedicated staff at Golden Years LTC in Cambridge these past 5 months.
A private family internment and celebration of life has taken place. Arrangements entrusted to WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com).
In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
A tree will be planted in memory of Paul W. DeHaan in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.