It is with great sadness that we wish to let you know about the terrible accident that took the lives of Gavin Nordeman and Darcie Slaa on December 4, 2009.
Leaving Gavin's home around 11:00am for a quick errand, at the intersection of Sunny Valley Road and Highway 6 they were in a collision with a car and tractor trailer truck. Gavin and Darcie were engaged to be married next year August. The Lord had different plans for them. Although the family cannot understand the reasons why, we are comforted by the fact that both Gavin and Darcie were a believing couple that knew their salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is with this assurance that their loss can be borne in the believe that they are safe and without pain with their Saviour in eternal glory.
Their bodies were taken to hospital in Owen Sound where an autopsy will be performed on Gavin on Monday Dec. 7.
Funeral arrangements will be made together with Darcie's family. At this time no further particulars are available.
We close this post with the words of a poem of comfort the family received today:
Holy Embrace
Oh, Lord God most high
In your most Holy Place
You hold Gavin and Darcie
In your warmest embrace
We praise you, oh Father
For your great acts of grace
In our Lord Jesus Christ
They behold now your face
We thank you, our Father
They've completed the race
Grant us strength of endurance
As we keep up the pace
Holy Spirit and Comforter
Please be our stay
Embrace in your mercy
Us below too, we pray
praying for your families.
ReplyDeletewishing you God's strength in this tough time.
we are all here for you.
love, sylvia
"The Lord is my light, my strength and my salvation, whom shall I fear?"
In Christ Alone my hope is found HE is my LIGHT my STRENGTH my SONG!
ReplyDeleteWhat a comfort we have knowing that Gavin and Darcie are home with the Lord. They will leave holes in your families and among their friends for sure, but knowing that our Lord has taken them home is such a comfort for everyone.
May the Lord be with all of you during this most difficult time.
Darcie was a member of the volleyball team I coached a number of years ago in Winnipeg. We also know her parents Henry and Judy.
Henry and Marie Stad
Calvin, Reuben, Tyson
Neerlandia, AB
So often we go through life with our feet firmly planted on the earth, looking down, thinking only of this life. We were created to live with God, and Darcie and Gavin have been promoted to that life with Him. We may not think that the time for their promotion was right in the sense that their life was relatively short, but we know that we are all on a pilgrimage here on earth. Weep not for those who go on ahead, but weep for those left behind. I will pray that Darcie and Gavin's families will be assured that joy comes with the morning, after the night of weeping has passed. May you be comforted with His Word and Spirit.
ReplyDeleteThea Heyink
York ON
We wish to express our sympathy and prayers for the Slaa and Nordeman families during this time of tragedy and loss. Although we didn't know the couple, we know relatives and grieve with you. May our Almighty Sovereign Lord and Saviour comfort you all with His Word, and provide you with the peace that passes all understanding.
ReplyDelete"those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
with Christian love, and prayers,
Martin and Nicole VanWoudenberg
(Aldergrove, BC)
Thinking and praying for both families during this time, be strong!! May the Lord be with you and hold you close to Him!
ReplyDeleteLove, Willemien Nederveen
To all our family and the family from Gavin in Canada we think and pray for you, strength and comfort from our Lord.
ReplyDeleteBert en Betty
Irene en Chris Vosslamber (The Netherlands)
To the families of Gavin and Darcie,
ReplyDeleteWe are praying that the Lord will hold you up in His Comfort and Strength during this sorrow filled time. May you lean on Him as you prepare to lay your son and daughter, brother and sister to eternal, heavenly rest and we pray that our Father will grant you peace.
Praying with and for you, Matt and Kerry Breukelman (Neerlandia, AB)
Lord's Day 1
Dear Nordeman and Slaa families, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May our Heavenly Father grant you all that you need both now and in the coming months. We don't understand why the Lord chose this for them but we may be comforted that He knows your sorrow and will carry you through. The words of the poem, Footprints in the sand, come to mind.
ReplyDeleteBryan and Catherine Stieva (Caledonia, Ontario)
My condolences with the sudden passing of Gavin and Darcie. May our gracious God and Father comfort and strengthen you all in this difficult time. It's a comfort knowing they are in the arms of our Lord, but it will sure leave a huge hole. May you be surrounded with comfort and strength in the days, weeks, and years that lie ahead.
ReplyDeleteMelanie Peters
Edmonton
Dear Nordeman and Slaa families and friends,
ReplyDeleteI am praying for all of you in this most difficult time. I am praying that you will all receive comfort and faith when it comes to not understanding some things in all of this but mostly I pray for you to all have and experience God's peace in time. I cannot remember the text itself but I will phrase what I can remember, "There is nothing in this life God gives us that we cannot handle." I remember Gavin when I used to attend Owen Sound...met him at a few church events and remember him to have been a very friendly guy. I never had the pleasure of meeting Darcie but my prayers go out to both families.
Heather Allen-Lodder
(Orangeville, Ontario)
our sincere condolences with the sudden passing of your loved ones, we often question and get no answers, may our loving God carry you through these very difficult days and the time to come. we will continue to pray for all those who are affected by this great loss.
ReplyDeletein christian love
kevin and tonja bos
To the Grieving families of Nordeman and Slaa;
ReplyDeleteMy sincere condolences with the unexpected passing away of your children.
Isaiah 55:8,9...
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,says the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
We do not understand "WHY"now,later we will...on that great day when we will see each other again.
Your children are now where we long to be...
COME LORD JESUS MARANATHA.
May our HOLY GOD carry you ALL through the valley of grief,comfort you and sustain you esp on the day that you lay the bodies of your children to rest in the hope of the ressurrection.
Remembering you ALL in my prayers.
May Rev.Moesker also receive wisdom and strength in this time of grief to comfort all the brothers and sisters of the congregation of Owen Sound of which these two young people where members.
With Christian LOVE
Frieda Moesker
Dear Gary, Natalie & family and Slaa families
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts, heart & prayers go out to you and yours. Continued strength & comfort which only comes from above.
"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be"
Ps. 139:16
With love, Dennis & Marg Muis and family
May the Lord surround, strengthen, and comfort the Nordemans and Slaas. We are praying and thinking about you all!
ReplyDeleteWes & Rose Bredenhof (nee: Peters)
Josiah, Julie, Emeline, Bethany
Our sincere condolances to the Nordeman and Slaa families and all those affected by this great loss. May our Heavenly Father be your constant Guide and Comfort. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteEd and Lorraine Feenstra & family.
Dunnville, ON
Although I don't know the couple themselves I want to pass my condolences on to all those affected by this great loss! My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God be your comfort. They are in a better place now!
ReplyDeleteJanine Lamberink - Vanderhoeven
Dear Gary and Natalie and family and the Slaa family and friends
ReplyDeleteWords are not able to say how we feel for you! Just know that we are praying for you all and what a comfort it must be to have the communion of saints surrounding you at this time.....
May you find great comfort in knowing they lived for the Lord....
love marlene and jack vanrootselaar and familyxoxox
Dear Gary and Natalie and Family, and the Slaa family,
ReplyDeleteYour grief is shared far and wide. We offer you our sincere condolences with the death of Gavin and Darcie. Our prayers are with you!
We pray that this time of Advent may serve as something of a reminder of God’s enduring promises. That He sent His Son to rescue us, bring us to Himself and ultimately free us from the immense pain of loss. May you find your hope in Christ alone as you lay your children to rest, confident that they are with Him in glory and that you will see them again…there!
“We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him….And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thess 4:14, 17-18.
May the God of all comfort, comfort you during these difficult days, months and even years.
With love and in Christ,
Ian and Nadia Wildeboer
Lae, Papua New Guinea
Dear Nordeman and Slaa families:
ReplyDeleteAs brothers and sisters in the Lord we are grieving with you. We pray the Lord will continue to surround you with His love and care as you deal with the heart wrenching grief. May our Heavenly Father provide you with His comfort as you lay the bodies of your dear loved ones to rest.
You are in our prayers.
Moge de Heer bij jullie zijn in deze tijd van pijn en verdriet. Veel sterkte. We bidden voor jullie.
ReplyDeleteMet oprechte deelneming.
Tante Andrea
Jan & Sjouktje, Lars en Yari
Henry & Lydia, Steven en Marije
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGary & Natalie, Alisha, Meghan, Shane, Joshua, Matthew, Jamie, Jacob and Michael,
ReplyDeleteWe’re sure you cannot explain entirely the feelings pulsing through over the trauma of the accident and devastation in losing your dear son Gavin & Darcie. We’re sure the feelings are withering you away... and pray the Lord is keeping millions of angels around you to give you strength and purpose!!
Lloyd and I are praying for you all, that in the midst of your painful circumstances that you see God now more than ever. Our condolences to you and your family. Always remember Jesus Christ is willing to wipe away your tears, He brings much comfort & peace in your darkest hour. May His peace bring you through your time of grief. He is your heavenly Father, cry on His shoulders. You will weep...be grateful as you look at pictures and memories of Gavin & Darcie...for the love...for the time...for the angels....for life...and for eternal heaven with God.
Praying with you and for you, Lloyd & Joanna, Rachelle, Hein, Laurissa and Courtney VanLuik
A poem that gave me a lot of comfort during some rough times....not sure where it came from but it was passed along from others, hopefully it helps comfort you as well during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with your families during this difficult time. May God give you all the strength and comfort you need to get through this together.
ReplyDeleteTo my dearest family,
some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know,
that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven.
Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness;
here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy
just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you
every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you,
when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me
and He said, "I welcome you."
When you think of my life on earth,
and all those loving years
because you are only human,
they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry;
it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers
unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you
all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you,
you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain,
though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now,
than I ever was before.
Dear Nordeman and Slaa Families,
ReplyDeleteWe hereby like to offer you our sincere and heartfelt condolences with the tragic passing away of your children Gavin and Darcie. We wish you the comfort and strength so eloquently summarized in Lord's Day One of the Heidelberg Catechism. At this time we would like to share the poem "The Weaver" with you.
The Weaver
My Life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.
Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.
Yours in Christ,
John and Theresa van Doodewaard
Teny and I and our children would like to offer to all of you our sincere condolences. What a relief it would be if the Lord Jesus would just come back soon. Then our joy would be complete and we would ener into glory together. The pain is so great today becuase as long as he tarries, we go one by one, or two by two.
ReplyDeleteMay our gracious God comfort you all.
Gerhard and Teny Visscher
We are so sorry for the loss of your dear son & his fiancee. What a comfort it is to know we do not mourn as those with no hope (Lord's Day 1). May God be a very real Prescence to you as you lay these dear ones to rest today and with you, we look forward to that great day when we will be raised immortal and will praise our Lord and Maker forever. May you find peace with God's will and grace for the days to come. Our deepest condolences,
ReplyDeleteArnie & Marcy Schulenberg & boys
Our thoughts and prayers continue for you ALL. Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow. Our arms embrace you In Christian Love and our deepest Sympathy. In all the coming and goings of this life having children this age, as parents, we continually remind them of many things and our love and drive safely, knowing full well that our lives and times are in God's hand's. How we need this promise, Lord... so we will take it with us all through the day. Thank you for the dear comfort of your LOVE and CARE. ..."I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;.. they will not sweep over you.. You are precious and honored in my sight, .. I love you." Isaiah 43 1-4 Our Hearts go out to you this Christmas and in the time ahead. Dick & Melody Vanderwel and Family
ReplyDeleteGARY NATALIE AND FAMILY AND THE SLAA FAMILY
ReplyDeleteDon;t know if you still read this but I thought I would send a note to let you know we are remembering you all today as the anniversary of that tragic day arrives. Praying that healing is happening and the comfort of knowing Gavin and Darcie were His children and are safe in His arms makes it easier to life this life with there memories...
Love MARLENE AND JACK VANROOTSELAAR AND FAMILY