John passed away peacefully in Lethbridge on June 27, 2009 after a short battle with cancer, leaving behind his wife of 59 years, Anne (nee Karsten), 4 children, 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
His son Marty (Marinus) and Jacky Ketel of Nobleford, and their children Brian of Nobleford, Steve (Val) of Lethbridge, Serena and her daughter, Brooklyn of Lethbridge, and Jeff (Amanda) of Lethbridge.

His son Ralph and Gwynn Ketel of Pine River, MB, and their children Sidney and Melissa of Langley, BC, David and Shannon and their children, Micah and Noah of Kenvill, MB, Robert of Brandon, MB, Jack of Langley, BC, Crystal of Pine River, MB, Kyle Thurlow of Lethbridge and Scott (Ashley) Thurlow and their daughters Shayla and Madison.

His son Andrew and June of Edmonton, AB, and their children Jonathan of Ottawa, ON, Christopher of Ottawa, Julie of Edmonton, AB, and Judah of Edmonton.

His daughter Margaret Gorsuch of Kennewick of Washington, USA, Casey VanNiedek of Lethbridge, Angela VanNiedek of Lethbridge, Matthew VanNiedek of Rimby, AB, and Jennifer VanNiedek of Picture Butte.

He was also Grandpa to many foster grandchildren.

John was predeceased by 2 brothers and 1 sister.

John (Johannes) Ketel was born September 16, 1927 at Alphen and Riun, South Holland, The Netherlands, to Marinus and Aartje (Bogaards) Ketel where his father and mother owned a clothing business on the banks of the Rijn River. Deliveries to the business came by the front door street or the back door dock on the river.

John's father passed way from lung cancer at the age of 42 leaving his young wife and 6 children. John's mother continued to operate the business with the help of employees and her children.

At a young age John showed a strong interest in agriculture. His mother helped him find a farmer to work for by the time he was 13 years old. Dad took agricultural schooling in Holland for 6 years. He went to France to work on a farm for a couple of summers before he immigrated to Canada in 1948.

John went off to Canada by himself, leaving behind his mother, 2 brothers and 3 sisters. On the ship, ""Tabinta"", he met many others also headed for Canada. A special relationship began with Anne Karsten who was immigrating to Coaldale, AB with her family. John was going to Beamsville, ON. John and Anne parted company on the docks in Quebec City. Anne stood on the toes of John's wooden shoes to give him a good-bye kiss.

A year later, when Dad had finished his contract, he moved to southern Alberta to continue courting Anne. While he was courting her he worked at the Taber Research Farm, the #8 coal mine in Lethbridge and various other jobs.

April 30, 1950 John and Anne were married in Iron Springs Christian Reformed Church. Their first job was a Horace Jones at Picture Butte. From 1951 - 1954 they lived in Smithers, BC where Dad worked at a sawmill, while they built their first house and their first two sons were born.
Spring of '54 found them back in Taber, AB where Dad worked for several farmers and their third son was born. In 1958 John and Anne bought an acreage outside of Coaldale and started their own small farm. Here their daughter was born.

Dad milked a cow or two, raised a few hogs and had a market garden while working at Loblaws Grocery, on a construction crew and other jobs. The market garden progressed to a greenhouse and nursery business called ""John's Greenhouse"" and then his small farm expanded to milking more cows and raising many, many more calves and hogs.

In 1973 he outgrew the acreage and started up a 100 cow dairy north of Park Lake in Picture Butte, Nobleford area naming the business ""Noble Butte Farms"". There John and Anne owned a quarter section and built a whole new dairy barn and corrals. Then in 1982 he started another new venture, building and operating a 1200 head feedlot 2 miles north of the dairy, ""Anchor M Feeders"".

In 1982 Dad and Mom moved to West Lethbridge, in 1994 they retired in south Lethbridge and in 2004 moved to their present home.
Along with his working, farming, and retirement years, John was very active in church, school, and farm related boards.

In the Christian Reformed Church John was involved in beginning the Smithers CRC and served many years on church councils in Lethbridge First CRC and Maranatha CRC.

John was very involved in the start up of Immanuel Christian School. He served on the school board and was the first bus driver for the school.
He served several years on the board of the Central Alberta Dairy Pool ""Alpha"".

He found involvement in these boards a real challenge, a time of personal growth and opportunity to serve his community. In his retirement years, he felt all his years of board service culminated in his service to Crossroads Counseling Services. He made many lifetime friends serving on these boards.

John cherished his wife, Anne, and loved his family deeply. All of his life's work and activities were in service to his family, his community, his country, Canada, but most of all and always to honour his Lord and Saviour. Dad would say, ""to God alone be the glory.""

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00pm on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at MARANATHA CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH, 260 McGill Blvd West, Lethbridge, with Pastor John Moermon officiating.