Gerard Jansen, 89, of Guelph, Ontario, died Jan. 11, 2022, at Hospice Wellington.
Born in Zevenaar, Netherlands, Feb. 10, 1932, to Frank and Dina Jansen, Jansen immigrated to Canada in 1953, and eventually settled in Guelph, where he worked for Owens Corning/Fiberglass for more than 25 years. He embraced his faith and was devoted to God. Jansen loved farming and raised Black Angus cattle. He was proud of his success winning Grand Champion Female at the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
In 1998, Jansen helped rescue an airplane pilot that crashlanded in Guelph and caught fire. A 66-year-old retired farmer, Jansen ran to the plane, under the wing which contained the fuel tanks, and forcefully pulled Nancy J. Kozlovic from the pilot’s seat. Jansen and co-rescuer James R. Munro, 54, patted out the flames on Kozlovic and guided her to safety.
Jansen is survived by his children, Eve-Lynne Smith and Jocelyn Jansen-Burt and husband Don; surrogate children Anita Cole and husband Dean, and Nicola Curtis and husband Derek; step-children Jennifer Fischer and husband Ed, Neil Hudman and wife Robin, Judy Aitchison and husband Wayne, Steve Hudman and wife Julie, Ian Hudman and wife Val, Sheila Smith and husband Al; grandchildren, Lauralee, Jeremy, Zachary, Evan, Olivia, Brady, Logan, Jaden, Dawson, Christopher, Doug, Julie, Bethany, Karensa, Janelle, Dan, Josh, Meighan, Tyler Harris, Trevor, Angie, Ryan, Tyler Artuso, Kyle, Shane, Collin, Melanie, Monica, Joel, Troy, Travis, and Dylon; 30 great-grandchildne; brother John Jansen; sister Maria Colaizzi and husband Dominic; sisters-in-law Diane Jansen and Fran Jansen; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by wife Isobel Jansen; brothers Louis Jansen and Frank Jansen; and sister-in-law Denise Jansen.