John Vanderhaar

Firefighter

Department: Bayfield Fire Department
Location: Bayfield, ON
Employment: Volunteer
Date of Death: June 10, 2023
Date of Birth: May 17, 1977
Age at Death: 46
Memorial Panel: 16

Story

John Vanderhaar died while responding to a marine incident on June 10, 2023. He joined the fire service in 2009.

John Vanderhaar was a respected and dedicated member of the Bayfield Volunteer Fire Department for 14 years. John’s hands on attitude and mechanical abilities made him a valued member of the team, always wanting to learn and find the best way to deal with potential problems. John brought many great ideas to the department.

On June 10, 2023, John suffered a Cardiac Arrest while responding to a marine incident on Lake Huron. It was a terribly sad day for the community as the marine victim was also a local resident.

Throughout the Bayfield area, John was known for lending a hand for jobs big and small, in his quiet and humble way. He was widely known as a hard worker and the proud owner of Bayfield Tree Service. Above all, he was always on call for family and friends when they were in need. John’s generosity, kind smile, blue eyes and laid-back personality will be greatly missed by all who knew him, especially by his wife Della and their dog Daisy.