With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and lifelong fisherman whose love for the water defined much of his life.  Throughout his career as a commercial fisherman captain on the tug boat Kar Lou, he found purpose on the open water, earning the respect of fellow fishermen through hard work and determination.

Fred leaves behind his wife and best friend of 59 years Barbara (Round).  He was born in Port Elgin to the late William and Alma (Terry).  Cherished father of Lisa (Stephen) Rigby and their children Austin and Aiden who he was so proud of.  Father of Frederick James Jr and his children Cody, Brylie and Tryten.

Predeceased by his brothers Ed, Ralph and Carl, sisters Edith and Marie.  Survived by his brother Norman.  Brother in law to Doug Round, Daniel Round (deceased), Dona Fields, David Round (deceased), Patricia Dyck, Linda Heyninck, Duane Round (deceased) Carol Round, Marjorie (Dave) Trotechaud, Deb (Doug) Toland, Darrel Round (deceased), Dean Round and Doreen (Gord) McGee.  Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday May 18, 2026 from 11 – 1 p.m. followed by the funeral.  Interment at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of donations, Fred would be most happy if you spent time on the water, which he was never far from, enjoying those you hold dearest.

Jeff Patterson passed away peacefully with his loving partner and best friend Laura by his side on Thursday May 14, 2026, just one day after their 50^th wedding anniversary.  He was an incredible father to Chris (Vandana) and Justin (Kate) and the adored grandpa to Nathan and Stella.

Jeff was born in London, the only child of the late John & Carolyn Patterson.  At a young age he learned the importance of devotion to family and the art of selflessness; characteristics that he carried throughout his life.  Beyond that, he was a humble man who was more comfortable being behind the scenes and not taking credit for his accomplishments.

He worked for IBM as a technician for 35 years.  One of the highlights of his career was going to the 1988 Calgary Olympics where he was responsible for ensuring every jump, finish and record-breaking moment was captured with total accuracy.  He was a member of the Blenheim Kinsmen for 30 years and enjoyed acting with Theatre Kent in Chatham.

Sometimes in life you are lucky enough in life to find someone you love and who loves you back as much.  Jeff was that someone to us.  He was one of a kind and we were blessed.

Visitation will take place at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Wednesday May 20, 2026 from 2:00 – 4:00 followed by words of remembrance.

Friends and family wishing to remember Jeff with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Chatham-Kent Hospice https://chathamkenthospicefoundation.com/donations/

Barry Sutton passed away peacefully with family by his side on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the age of 83.  He is survived by his wife Cairn Sutton, his daughters Elissa Sutton and Hilary Sutton (Tom Shrubb), sisters Diane Handsor and Geri Bailey (Wes), brothers Trever Sutton (Sandy) and Kevin Boswell, grandsons Oliver Whitman and Connor Millar, granddaughters Lily and Iris Shrubb, and many more loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was predeceased by his father John Walter Sutton, his mother Dorothy Boswell, step-father Harold Boswell, brother Alvin Boswell, brother-in-law Marvin Handsor, and his nephew Michael Maxwell.

Barrie was born in England during WWII and came to Canada after the war with his mother and two brothers. As a young man, he joined the Canadian Navy and later the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Sooke, BC, where he enjoyed performing in the Sooke choir. In his later years, Barry worked on the C & O Railway and with Commissionaires Canada. He loved watching sports, telling bad dad jokes, caring for the cats he didn’t want to get, reading sci-fi and fantasy books, travelling, and keeping up with the news. A special time in Barry’s life was when he was able to meet his long-lost cousins through investigating his ancestry.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Community Room at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Saturday May 23, 2026 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Joe passed away peacefully at Meadow Park nursing home at the age of 82. Sadly he predeceased his wife of 35 years, Carol Whitson, by one day.

Joe is survived by his three children; Jeff (Melanie), Chris (Kelly) and Wendy (Jimmy, 2019). He was also a proud grandfather to Kirkland, Hayley, Holden, and Harper.

Joe owned and operated Blenheim Dodge Chrysler for almost 20 years. Outside of his professional life, Joe found pleasure in golfing, gardening and music; pursuits he enjoyed wholeheartedly and shared with those close to him.

He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Meadow Park, for their care and support of Joe over the last year. Their compassion and dedication allowed Joe to live out his life with dignity and respect.

Joe has been cremated and will be laid to rest alongside Carol.

A celebration of life will take place at a later date.

Bob Goulet passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Saturday May 2, 2026 at the age of 82 years.  He was the devoted husband of 58 years to Paula (Vinall) Goulet, and the #1 fan and dedicated father of Ryan who sadly lost his battle with A.L.S. on August 28, 2021.  He will be forever loved by his daughter in law Margaret and his grandchildren Leah and Andrew who brought him endless joy.  Since the passing of his son Ryan, Bob’s greatest joys in life were watching his grandson play hockey for the Blenheim Blades and witnessing the career achievements of his granddaughter along with her travels.

Bob was born in Chatham on February 6, 1944 to the late Leo & Sarah Jean (Snobelen) Goulet and is survived by his only brother Richard as well as his nieces, nephews and cousins.  He farmed for a good part of his life and also worked at Thompsons in Blenheim.  He served as a fire fighter, he was a past President of the Ontario Farm Safety Association, and a teacher at the Fire College in Gravenhurst.  He taught extrication techniques and worked for insurance companies to put out silo fires.  He acted as a Reeve of Harwich Township and enjoyed fishing, hunting and always had a story handy to share.

In keeping with Bob’s wishes, cremation will take place and his family will remember him at a graveside service in Evergreen Cemetery where he will be laid to rest by son Ryan.

WIEBENGA, L. Betty (nee Spin) has left this earth to be with her Lord and Saviour on Saturday, May 2, 2026. She was born in Holland on January 4, 1927 to parents Jan & Hilligje (nee Oosterhof) Spin. She was the 10^th child of 11. In her 20’s, Betty came to Canada to work and met and married her husband, W. Ben Wiebenga. Betty has outlived not only her husband but all her siblings and their spouses. She is survived by her children, Henry & his wife Sue (nee McKillop), Hilda & her husband Ewoud Van Goch, Jody & her husband Ran Charles. She was a grandmother and great grandmother to Lucas & Katie and their children Harrison & Penny, Mitchell & Sarah and their children Fiadh, Henny, Finn & Mirrlee, Neven & Holly, Aidan and his son Sawyer, Dylan & Helen, Griffin & Emily, and Jordan & Sami. Betty is also survived by her sisters-in-law Joyce Wiebenga and Joan (& Pete) Anderson as well as many nieces and nephews in Canada and Holland.

Betty was the heart of the family and a true matriarch. She was a pillar of strength and a source of boundless love and prayer for us all. She spent her life in service to her family, her Church and her community.

Visitation will take place at the First Reformed Church on Tuesday May 5, 2026 from 10:00 – 11:00 followed by a funeral service at 11:00 officiated by Rev. Florence Dekker.  A luncheon will follow the service.  Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, friends are being asked to consider making a memorial donation to Betty’s favourite charities: Effect Hope (formerly The Leprosy Mission Canada) http://www.effecthope.org , Christian Blind Mission http://cbm.org/donate or World Vision Canada http://www.worldvision.ca .

Brenda Wiltenburg of Blenheim passed away on Thursday April 2, 2026 at the age of 70 years.  She is the daughter of the late Burton & Audrey (Ortelli), and is survived by her brothers Brad Caughy and Murray & Chris Caughy.

Brenda worked as a Paediatric Critical Care Nurse in London.  In March of 1987, she married Ton Wiltenburg and began a life on a farm outside of Blenheim.  Together they raised three children; Rebecca & Terry, Renee & Robert and Len & Joann.  She was blessed with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  She is survived by 4 brothers-in-law and 2 sisters-in law in Holland.

Brenda will be remembered fondly as an honorary mother to many children who she babysat over the years.  She was a kind and caring person whose life was spent making the lives of those she cared for a little bit better.  She will be missed.

Brenda’s wish was not to have a funeral.  If you want to do something in her memory, give your children an extra hug and let them know how proud you are of them.  If you choose to make a memorial donation, choose a charity that is close to your heart.

A graveside service will take place at Pardoville Cemetery on Saturday May 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life at the Blenheim Legion.

The life of Gloria Parker will be celebrated on May 9, 2026.  She will be interred at the Craford Cemetery, 19368 Craford Road in Cedar Springs at 11 am with Pastor Bill Terris officiating.  Following that time, at 12:30, there will be a reception  at the Community Room at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home, 60 Stanley Street, Blenheim.  All are welcome.

Please join us as we gather to celebrate the life of Susan Guthridge Shriver on May 9, 2026, in Blenheim, Ontario. A short ceremony and interment of ashes will take place at 1:00 pm at the Evergreen Cemetery, 470 Talbot Street, Blenheim, Ontario. The Celebration of Life service will start at 2:00 pm at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home, 53 Stanley Street, Blenheim, Ontario. Please stay and join us for a reception with refreshments at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home following the service.

Jim Boothe, much loved and dedicated husband of the late Carolynn Boothe (2012) passed away at the Chatham-Kent Hospice on April 24, 2026 at the age of 74.   He will be missed greatly by his son Dennis (Kat), his daughter  Stephanie (John), his daughter-in-law Wendy (late Jimmy) (2019) and his grandchildren Kirkie (Alex), Kalvin and Lexie.  He was looking forward to being a first time great grandpa in May.  He will also be missed dearly by his partner Sue who helped him to enjoy life again.

He was one of twelve children born to the late Elizabeth & George Boothe and is survived by his siblings Elizabeth DeBaene (Wayne), Susan Daly (Brian), Emily Daly, Georgina Boothe, Kathy Gehl (Dave), Joe Boothe (Leanne), John Boothe (Donna) and George Boothe.  He was predeceased by his brother Bob Boothe (survived by Laurie) and his sisters Pam McCullough (survived by Ron) and Lynn Ameel.

Jim was raised in a time when hard work and determination weren’t just values – they were the way you built a life.  And he carried those qualities with him every day.  His presence was quiet but powerful.  He was a truck driver, farmer and strong provider who was happiest when his fingernails were dirty.

In keeping with his wishes, a private graveside service will be held in Evergreen Cemetery where Jim will be laid to rest with Carolynn and Jimmy.  A Celebration of Life at a later date will be announced.