JOSEPH BERNARD KLUNDER

September 22, 2024

Joseph Bernard Klunder, deeply loved husband, father, brother, uncle and Opa, formerly of the Kincardine area, died Sept. 22, 2024, in the palliative care unit at Brantford General Hospital, surrounded by family. He was 85. Alongside his wife, Jane, he courageously lived his last years and days with failing health, but always with optimism and joy of life. He enjoyed spending the summer at the camper, visiting friends and family, and always welcoming guests with never-ending cups of coffee. Joe took great pleasure in drives through farmland – often telling stories of past events or people he knew from those places. He took great care and joy from some doves he kept and was fond of showing them off to others. Loving husband of Jane (Vandenberk) for 53 years. Beloved father of Mark and Mandy (Batte), James and Alisha (Dobbins), Robert, Chris and Dianna (Clarke), and Emily and Tom Blake. Opa cherished and cheered on his loving grandchildren, Charlie, Joey, Johnny, Maggie, MJ, Molly, Sophia, Joseph, Vander, Lita and Felix. Joe was the eighth child of Willem and Bernadina, and was a loved brother to Riki (deceased), Ben, Bill, John (deceased), Annie, Gerry, Diny, Harold and Theo. Born in Twello, the Netherlands, Joe immigrated to Canada with his family, settling in Binbrook, Ontario. He loved sports and farming. As a boy, he was ferocious with the soccer ball and was very proud of his time playing with Burlington United and his friends, as a young man. Joe worked in the Hamilton area until he could afford to buy a farm. Shortly after marrying Jane in 1971, they bought a farm in Bruce County, outside Kincardine, and worked hard on turning the land and buildings into a family farm for them to raise their children. Joe was a friend to all he met, and he loved to cheer on his children and grandchildren in their sports. He was a dedicated Leafs fan (sorry), and Hockey Night in Canada was a staple in the house. In later years, he never missed a Manchester United game on TV and was Emily’s team’s greatest fan. He sold Pickseed seeds and grain in the last years of farming and thoroughly enjoyed travelling farmlands and having a coffee while visiting farmers, always caring and interested in their families. The family extends sincerest thanks to the wonderful staff at the Hamilton General Hospital critical care unit and the palliative unit at Brantford Hospital for their kind care of Joe. The Celebration of Life will take place at the Hellenic Community Centre in Brantford, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, from 2:30-6:30 p.m. The address is 475 Park Rd. N., Brantford, Ontario, N3R 7K8. Memorial donations can be directed to ARTC, the Adult Recreation Therapy Centre in Brantford, which gave joy and care to Joe as well. The website address is artc.ca/contact.