HYNDMAN, Rev. John Wesley went to his eternal reward on Friday, February 12, 2021 at the age of 93, on St. Joseph Island, Ontario.
Husband of the late Marion Alice (nee Hawdon) Hyndman and father of Carolyn (late Ivan) Marritt, Barbara (Fred) Hartson, Lorraine Tilson, Sharon Blanco and John E. Hyndman (Linda). Also survived by 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren. The oldest son of the late Howard Hardy Hyndman and the late Rena (Hebberd) Hyndman, he grew up primarily in Sault Ste Marie and on St Joseph Island, Ontario, where his father and grandfather were pastoring and where he met Marion. Survived by one brother Alan (Vivian) Hyndman, Welland, ON. Numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews also survive. Predeceased by an infant son, Timothy, and an infant daughter, Bonnie Lou, his sister Margaret (John) Harris, Spring Arbor Michigan and one brother, Ken (Roberta) Hyndman, Burlington, Iowa.
John loved his Lord and heard God’s call into pastoral ministry while attending Spring Arbor College (Michigan) for High School and Jr College. He then moved on to Hillsdale College (still in MI) to finish his B.A. in religious studies. He worked at many things to support his growing family while finishing school and planting a church in Pulaski, Michigan -- a lumber yard, remodeling houses, market garden, bus driver, taxi driver, Good Year Tire & Rubber Company to name a few -- one year having 5 jobs and getting his story in the local paper! The work of the Lord always came first and was prospering in Pulaski but in 1962 the Lord called him to take his family to Fort William (now Thunder Bay) Ontario, Canada to help in building up a small church there. Meanwhile he got his BA (Education) from Lakehead University while also teaching school to help pay the bills (later earned his MA Ed. as well). He stayed for 17 years as Pastor with the church growing many fold in size. Then the Lord called him to plant a church in Dryden, ON. Again, he supported himself through teaching until the church was up and thriving. He and Marion stayed in Dryden until his retirement in 1995, after pastoring for 45 years with the Free Methodist Church. John’s greatest joy in life was introducing people to the Lord. The Lord in turn blessed his ministry, and MANY were brought into the family of God or built up in their faith. He had a heart for the lost right up until the end. During his last months he loved sharing and preaching on Sunday nights in his Seniors’ residence and typing out letters of encouragement to friends and family, after his hands had become too shaky to write. In 2018 John achieved another goal of publishing his memoirs “From Farm Boy to Minister of the Gospel” as his testimony of how God had worked in and through him during his life (now available from Amazon).
We will miss him greatly, but we have the blessed hope of a great reunion in Heaven, with him and all our loved ones who have gone before.
There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date due to the travel and gathering restrictions at this time. Memorial donations (payable by cheque) may be made to any of the churches John was a big part of: St Joseph Island Free Methodist Church, Dryden F.M. Church, John Wesley F.M. Church in Thunder Bay, or Pulaski F.M. Church (Michigan). Arrangements entrusted to the Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (705-759-2522). Please visit Arthur Funeral Home website obituaries to leave memories and condolences as a keepsake for the family.