Obituary of Michel "Mike" Verhaeghe
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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mike Verhaeghe. Mike lived a life marked by hard work, compassion, and a deep commitment to his faith and community. He touched many lives, and his legacy will continue to inspire those who knew him.
Mike passed away peacefully on Friday, January 3rd at Grand River Hospital, Kitchener. He had just celebrated his 90th birthday on December 24th.
He was preceded in death by his wife Lucille, his parents, Camiel and Leonie, and all nine of his siblings and their spouses: Clara, Laurent and Maria and Adrianne, Simonne and Petrus, Hilda and Odeil, Gabriel and Oda, Daniel and Georgette, Raphael and Agnes, Triphon and Yolande, Albert and Cecile.
Mike was born on December 24, 1934, in Izegem, Belgium, near Passchendaele. He was raised on a farm and at the age of 16, he enrolled in a four-year woodworking trade school, in Tielt Belgium, where he became a professional carpenter and graduated near the top of his class.
Mike married Rosa Vanallermeersch on February 5, 1959, and they immigrated to Canada that year. They had six children and divorced in 1977. In 1992, Mike met and married Lucille Wood, who had five daughters. Sadly, Lucille lost her battle to cancer in 2016.
Mike is survived by his children Johan (Michelle), Anne Marie (Marc), Joseph (Rebecca), Rose Marie (Brian), Thomas (Karen) and Theresa; and by his stepdaughters Natalie (Robert) and Kelley (Terry). He was grandfather to Christopher (Stephanie), Carter (Casey), Jordan (Christina), Victoria, James (Samantha), Hannah, Rachel, Erinn, Carleigh, Kendra, Dane, Tristan and Mallory, and delighted to be a great-grandfather to Layla and Danielle.
Mike dedicated much of his career to the home construction industry, building over 300 homes across Ontario. For many years, he proudly ran his own home renovation business, earning a reputation for his skill and craftsmanship. One of his proudest achievements was the creation of over 1,000 custom fireplace mantels, each one a testament to his attention to detail and dedication to quality.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mike had a wide range of hobbies and passions. He was an avid square dancer and enjoyed bowling, but his love of travel took him across Canada, where he cherished discovering new places and meeting new people. He had a real fondness for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mike's true passion, however, was his volunteer work. He faithfully served at Thrift on Kent, where he was known for his boundless energy and cheerful disposition. He took great pride in fixing things and doing whatever was needed, finding joy in each day spent helping others. His contributions extended beyond the thrift shop; Mike crafted up to 100 flower boxes each spring for the House of Friendship and oversaw a large renovation of their facility, leaving a lasting impact on the organization and the people it serves.
Mike’s faith was a cornerstone of his life. For over 20 years, he was an active and respected member of Creekside Community Church, where he was known for his warm smile and welcoming presence. Each Sunday, Mike greeted his fellow congregants with kindness and compassion. He was instrumental in building or creating nearly anything made of wood at Creekside, from the sound pit to various furniture pieces. Mike’s dedication to service also led him to help the church’s efforts in creating mattresses for the homeless, building weaving looms for the people who made the bedding from misprinted plastic milk bags. He became a weaver himself, finding fulfillment in the simple, yet profound, act of helping those in need.
Mike will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His warmth, generosity, and steadfast dedication to his faith and community will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.
Guests are invited to the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S, Waterloo, on Friday January 10 at 11:00 a.m. to gather and spend time with the family. A memorial service will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Rob Gast officiating. A reception will follow.
Cremation will have taken place; a private family interment will take place later in the day.
In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to The House of Friendship or Creekside Church may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street S. Waterloo at www.erbgood.com
Memorial Service
