Jacobus "Jim" Martinus Degraaf

Jim DeGraaf

(August 15th 1941 – March 26th 2021)

It is with much sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Jim DeGraaf on March 26 at 3:20am at the age of 79 surrounded by his family at Victoria Hospital in London.  We celebrate that he has gone home to be with his Lord and Savior.

He was born in Holland and as a teenager he worked for a Blacksmith.

At the age of 18, Jim immigrated to western Canada and worked with a landscaping company. He then moved to Vineland Ontario and worked on a fruit farm. He started into construction building and shortly after, got a job from Seneca Steel as a welder fabricator. He eventually took many courses in welding and fabricating and achieved his CSA Welding Certification Level II.

In 1974 he became a Canadian Citizen and in 1978 achieved a Bachelor Of Arts Degree from Brock University.

Jim was self-employed as an Inspector & Expeditor.  He was licensed to inspect high-rise structures, oil turbines for oil rigs overseas, Procor tankers, the equipment at the Pickering nuclear power plant as well as many other large structures and equipment in Canada and the United States.

Throughout his life, he was always actively involved with his previous churches as an elder, Bible teacher and prayer leader.
He followed God’s calling into ministry through mission work and travelled to Russia, Albania, Nagaland and India.  He continued taking courses at Tyndale Bible College and Seminary, receiving his Master of Divinity Degree in May 1997.

Registering under the CRA, he followed God’s calling for him and grew his own Mission to open the doors to other missionaries around the world who work with church planting, opening schools, feeding and clothing orphans, teaching teachers to teach Bible, shipping educational books, Bibles and training materials to un-reached areas of the world.

On October 16, 1965 Jim was married to Reeta DeGraaf.
He was the loving father of William (Amanda) DeGraaf, James (Kim) DeGraaf, Michael (Maria) DeGraaf, and Rietta (Richard) Demeester. Cherished grandfather of Justin, Nathan, Emma, Melissa, Rebecca, Evan and Hope; Traci, Ashley and Tayler; Tyler and Reanna; Devon, Jacob and Matthew. Proud great grandfather of Kendrik  and Barrett.

In Heaven Jim joins his father Rev. Willem DeGraaf and his mother Johanna DeGraaf (Bekker), his sister Adriana Monsma (survived husband Cornelis).  Jim is survived by his brothers Huugo Degraaf (wife Audrey) and Frank Degraaf, and his sister Anneke DeGraaf (husband Oscar).
Jim was also well loved by the siblings and spouses of his wife Reeta.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit with the family on Wednesday, March 31st 2021 at Hi-Way Pentecostal Church, 584118 Beachville Rd, Ingersoll from 10:30 – 11:30. The celebration service will begin at 11:30 (Guests must R.S.V.P. on the funeral home website in advance for the service and visitation).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Assists Projects and may be arranged through the Brock and Visser Funeral Home (519-539-0004). Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.brockandvisser.com