John Boon

John Andrew (Johannes Andreas) of Lethbridge, beloved husband of the late Antonia Boon- Kok, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2014 at the age of 91 years.

John was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on March 21, 1922 to Pieter Boon and Hendrika H. Boon- Kropp. He was the eldest of 3 brothers (Pieter, Hendrik). Until the Second World War broke out, John had planned a degree in Geology, and had structured his education accordingly. Gifted in languages, he obtained his translation papers in French, German and English, which eventually led to his position as translator for the war crimes tribunals in the Netherlands at the end of World War II. Eighteen when the war started, John spent 5 years underground in the Nord-Oost Polder and as a runner for the underground newspaper ""Trouw"".

In 1947, he met and fell in love with Antonia (Toni) Kok. They married and had 5 daughters Hendrika (Harold) Beaulieu, Antonia Thomson (deceased), Lidy (Maurice) Dekwaadsteniet, Ellen (Gary) Goffman, and Joanne (Curtis) Lazar. Together with their 3 oldest daughters, John and Toni immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta in April of 1957. John accepted many jobs to ensure his family's success and succeeded quickly. He became Assistant Director of the Belmont Rehabilitation Centre, worked as an officer of adoption services, and in 1967 he moved to Lethbridge to set up Family Community Support Services. Shortly afterward he became the first Director of Barons Eureka-Warner. He remained in that position until he retired in 1986. Upon retiring, John and Toni relocated to BC, first to the Fraser Valley where he consulted in social work, then to Vancouver Island and Oregon. In 2001, they came back to Lethbridge to be closer to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

John was predeceased by his wife Toni in 2008 and his daughter Antonia (Anne) in 2011. He is survived by his 4 remaining children, 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, February 24, 2014 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 4th Street South, Lethbridge.