John Bassie, in his 66th year, passed away Feb. 27.
John was the youngest son of Marinus and Lena Bassie, and the youngest brother of David (Evelina), Jack (Myrna), Sara (George), Rien (Diana), Len (Carole), Paul (Barb), Trudy (Ben), Bill (Wilma), Pieter (Karen), Case (Brigitte), and Lena (Bob). He is survived by six of his siblings and his two sons, Jacob and Joshua. John grew up in Newmarket, Ontario. Being a large family, older siblings helped care for younger ones, and there were always chores that everyone did their part to work on. He trained and worked as a carpenter from when he was a young man until his retirement. He started his career under his older brothers, and when he was old enough to run things himself, continued the tradition by employing some of his nephews.
John’s hobbies over the years included mountain biking, building and painting model cars, and reading. He had particular interest in reading books about physics and theology. He encouraged his sons to pursue their interests, especially if they involved building skills or education. Despite his later years being spent in declining health due to a stroke in 2016, he persevered and kept trying to live a full life. In 2021 he pulled his model cars back out of the closet and began re-learning how to build and paint them with full use of only one hand. He took great pride in the progress he made as he hadn’t thought he would be able to do it again. John will be greatly missed by the friends and family he leaves behind.
The Bassie family will receive relatives and friends at the Brombal Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph on Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, from 2– 4 p.m. At 3:30 p.m. friends and family are invited to share memories of John.
In memory of John, donations to the Stroke Recovery Canada, as well as the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated. Share online condolences and tributes at www.brombal.ca.