Merks Family Coat Of Arms

Brief Biography of John Joseph Merks

John Joseph Merks was born on March 24, 1929th at Velddriel in the province of Gelderland, The Netherlands. His father, Johannes Hildebrand Merks, was born on December 12th 1886 at Velddriel and died March 30th 1969 at s’Hertogenbosch. His mother, Ardina Maria Merks (nee Verhoeven), was born on February 14th 1896 at Velddriel and died on March 23rd 1960 at Velddriel.

John’s schooling was interrupted in May of 1940 when The Netherlands was invaded by Germany. During the Nazi occupation he was involved with the resistance to the extent possible for a teenage boy. Immediately after liberation by Canadians, John assisted helping his family settle down from a life as war refugees. He served in the Princess Irene Brigade from 1949 to 1951. After finishing his tour of duty John sailed on the S.S. Waterman and arrived in Halifax Nova Scotia on April 1st 1952 as a landed immigrant. From April 1952 through April 1956, John worked for three different farmers in Woodville and Canning Nova Scotia.

He was engaged to Lucia Maria Van Herwijnen. Lucia was born on December 15th, 1932 at Velddriel, The Netherlands. Her father was Johannes Van Herwijnen (b. March 16th 1888 at Velddriel – d. September 30th 1977 at Ammerzoden). Her mother was Maria Wilhelmina Hooymans (b. June 1st, 1902 at Velddriel – d. December 12th 1975 at Ammerzoden). Lucia sailed on the S.S. Waterman and arrived in Halifax as a landed immigrant on April 1st 1953. On April 28th 1953 John and Lucia were married at Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Wolfville Nova Scotia.

During this period John also worked unloading freighters in Port Williams N.S. in order to earn enough money for a down payment to purchase his own farm. On May 1st 1956 John Joseph Merks, along with his brother Joseph, purchased the farm owned by Robert Minor in Melanson N.S. Since that time the farm and ancillary businesses have grown to produce multi-million dollar revenues in 2005. Currently and in the past he has served as president of Merks Farms Limited, Valley Transfer Limited, Acadia Trucking Limited Lacey Leasing Limited, John Merks and Son Poultry Farms Limited. John and Lucia became Canadian citizens on December 10th 1969.

While being involved in the growth of his farms and businesses, John Merks was active on many community boards. These included twelve years as a founding member of the Nova Scotia Chicken Marketing Board, nine years as a board member of A.C.A. Farm Cooperative, three years as a director of the Nova Scotia Egg and Pullet Marketing Association, twenty-four years as a member of the Nova Scotia Milk Producers Association and a member of the Holstein-Friesian Association. He was also member and chairman of the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Council and a member of the church’s Gregorian Choir.

John Joseph Merks’ philanthropic endeavours have included Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yarmouth, Saint Francis Xavier University, and the Eastern Kings Memorial Hospital all of Nova Scotia.

John and Lucia have five children, one of whom died as an infant. They are:

John Hildebrand Merks,
 Wilhelmus Maria Leonardus Merks,
Andre Daniel Merks,
Diane Maria Porskamp (nee Merks),
Gerald John Merks, died February 11th 1964

John Joseph Merks died alone early Wednesday morning September 14th, 2011 at the Wolfville Nursing Home, Wolfville Nova Scotia Canada.

Lucia Maria (Van Herwijnen) Merks died on the morning of March 19th, 2021 at the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada.