Obituary of Jan "John" Nyssen

Dr. John was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on 24 August 1934.  On 15 December 1955 he married Marge, his teenage sweetheart.  This romance continued for 72 years.  63 years as husband and wife.  After working as a technician in the laboratory of the Shell refinery, he served in the Dutch Army for three years reaching the rank of Lieutenant.  They immigrated to Canada in April 1957, rejoining his family in Saskatoon.  Within three days he found a job as a laboratory-aid in the Pathology Department of the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan.  In that environment he seized the opportunity to pursue his interest in medicine by taking classes which culminated in earning a Bachelor's Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology in 1963.  He then worked as a senior laboratory technician at Royal University Hospital until 1973.  Encouraged and supported by his wife and children during these ten years he also took selected classes at the University, as well as maintaining his research in evenings and on weekends towards a PhD in Pathology, an objective he reached in 1973. 

From 1973 until his retirement in 2004 he devoted the major part of each day and weekends to his profession as an Associate Pathologist at Royal University Hospital with his main interest being in forensic autopsy pathology.  He was appointed as coroner in 1991 and due to his experience in forensic pathology, he became the Chief Coroner for Saskatchewan in 1995, an appointment he kept until 2004.  In the meantime he was also appointed a clinical professor of pathology and lectured paramedical students three times a week for 25 years.  He also served the Resort Village of Aquadeo, where he had his self-built cabin, as administrator and councillor.  

During his sparse leisure time before retirement John loved to tinker at his cabin, enjoyed fishing up north, photography, working on his computer, but most of all spending time with his family and grandchildren.  Throughout his retirement John never found peace with the fact that he could not do the things he had planned, due to a rapid deterioration of his vision that occurred almost simultaneous with his retirement.  May he now rest in peace.

 
John was predeceased by his father, John; mother, Nel; brother, Joop; and sister-in-law, Val.

He is survived by his wife, Marge; daughter, Marj Lens (Maggie & Joel, Jill & Stef); son, Rudy & wife Carla (Max & Kelsey, Nic & Mary, Ben & Katie); son, Jim & wife Vanessa (Jordon & Jessi, Enver, Jack, Charlie), (Amber & Mitch, Layla), (Cortney), (Katie & Stephan), (Amy); daughter, Brenda Nett; sister, Nel (Eldon); and brother, Martin (Jenny).  

In lieu of flowers Dr. John requests any and all donations be made to the St. Paul’s Close to Home Campaign for Hospice & End-of-Life Care at https://www.stpaulshospital.org/foundation/campaign/

Family and friends are invited to a gathering on Friday, February 15, from 9:30am – 11:30am at the Edwards Family Centre (333 – 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon). Courtesy parking is available across the street at Saskatoon Funeral Home.