Hendrik (Henk) Dykman
Rev. Hendrik (Henk) Dykman
December 6, 1933 – April 29, 2026
It is with sadness Henk’s family announce his sudden passing with an advanced prostate cancer, diagnosed only 3 weeks ago. Deeply missed by his wife Lorraine, daughters Mindy (Andrew) and Dineke (Chris) and stepson James (Fernanda), grandsons Nathan (Erin), Ryan Kearns and Ryan Fisk (Cyla), nephews and nieces in both The Netherlands and Canada, and finally 2 great-grandchildren Claire and Wyndham, who will never really know him except for the stories of the joy he had in their arrivals.
Growing up near Zutphen, The Netherlands, his elementary school days were marred by the ravages of World War II. Living on the flyway of the Allies’ bombers headed to Germany, he learned to recognize any and every airplane flying. He studied horticulture before immigrating alone to the land of his Canadian liberators on August 1956, where he continued to study at UBC, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
The call to ministry of the United Church of Canada changed his plant science path into one of serving people. Ordained in 1965, his people path led him to Home Missions work north-east of Prince George, B.C., pastorates in Manitoba’s farmlands, and then more training to become a chaplain which brought him to Ontario in 1978 to serve a prison chaplaincy in Guelph’s former Guelph Correctional Center.
A peace and justice activist all his career, it was his letter to every parliamentarian considering abolishing capital punishment that was read into Hansard before the successful vote that ended that flawed practice in Canada.
In 1990 Henk began a second volunteer ministry to Canadian veterans and families of fallen soldiers, particularly the families of the 11 Canadians who died near his home during the battles for liberation that ended World War II. That ministry included building memorials in The Netherlands as well as inviting reconciliation with German veterans, a work for which he was honoured with The Netherlands Order of the Orang-Nassau in 2012.
In Henk’s long retirement, he was able to continue his participation in gardening, birding, sports and music. We are grateful for his long and fruitful life.
Many thanks to all who cared for him in these last difficult weeks: Dr. Diaz, Community Paramedics, the emergency staff at Guelph General Hospital, and most of all Wellington Hospice.
Donations to Guelph’s Chalmers Centre or charities of your choice in Henk’s memory would all be appreciated.
The funeral service for Henk will take place at Harcourt Memorial United Church, 87 Dean Ave, Guelph, on Friday, May 8th at 1:30 pm, with reception to follow. A private internment will take place Saturday May 9th. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
A tree will be planted in memory of Hendrik J. Dykman in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.