Father John C. Van Damme passed to his eternal reward on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at St. Joseph’s Hospice, London. Father John was born June 1, 1937 and was ordained a Priest in St. Peter’s Cathedral on June 1, 1963. Predeceased by his parents Leo and Marie (Bogaert) Van Damme and brothers Joseph (2013) and Gustaaf (2013). He is survived by his brothers George and Jean (Burm) and Richard and Lorraine (Burm) and numerous nieces and nephews. Father John was educated for the priesthood in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin earning a BA and M Div. He later earned a MA (Windsor) and PhD (Alberta). He taught in Alberta, Mississauga and London. He did parish ministry work in Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Windsor, Port Lambton, Bright’s Grove, Bothwell and Glencoe and London. He was on the founding board of directors of the Edmonton Food Bank (1981). He was dean of Sarnia Lambton and for ten years served on the Diocese of London Loan fund. He supervised the construction of St. Charles Garnier Parish Church in Glencoe and he had been involved in the construction of St. Joan of Arc Parish Church in Toronto earlier. He was a K of C charter member of St. Patrick’s Council, Caledonia, Father Nelligan Council, Port Lambton and Holy Rosary/St. Martin Council, London. Visitation will be held at Van Heck Funeral Home, 172 Symes Street, Glencoe on Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Prayers 8:30 p.m. Father John will lie in state in St. Charles Garnier Church, 244 Stella Street, Glencoe on Wednesday, February 20th from 9 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB, Bishop of London celebrant. Interment will be in the priests’ section of St. Peter’s Cemetery, London. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Fr. John are asked to consider St. Charles Garnier Church, Glencoe.
