He is survived by his wife of 70 years Olga van de Ven – Bijl and their sons and families. Johan was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He worked as a process engineer in Dordrecht and Emmen before emigrating to Toronto in 1977.
Johan was a musician, a gardener, an engineer, a painter, and an avid traveler. He possessed a curious mind and was always excited to learn and explore. In 1947 he travelled Europe despite restrictions, by hitchhiking on Canadian Army trucks. His sense of adventure led him to study aeronautical engineering, which led to his profession. Although he studied classical violin as a child, after being exposed to the music of Luis Armstrong and the Hot Club de France, he became a lifelong Jazz musician on guitar and double bass. He met the love of his life, Olga while still a teenager and together they raised three boys. Johan always said that “marrying Olga was the best thing I ever did.” He was an engaged and enthusiastic husband, father and grandfather. He always had time for silly games or serious conversations. Johan thought deeply about life’s important questions, he was a secular Humanist and a freethinker. Together with Olga they founded the Toronto Chapter of the Humanist association. He believed that life should be filled with ideas, experiences, joy, love, kindness and the helping of others. His gentle manner and warm smile will always be in our hearts.
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