Published in The Lake Report, June 4, 2026, page 25.
It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Rick Kingma on May 14, 2026.
Rick will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Sandra; his children, Kevin (Subee) and Chrissy; his siblings and their families: Annie Rutherford, Sam (Anne), Andy, and Dorothy Kimber (Jay) of Ontario, and John (Anita), Dina (Ron), and Rita (Steve) of British Columbia. He is also survived by his in-laws and their families: Elisabeth Riss, Larry Riss (Cheryl), Karen Cherubini, Linda Riss (Russ), and Dennis Riss (Claudia). Rick was predeceased by his parents, John and Aukje; and his siblings Douglas, Gerda, Susan, and Clarence.
Rick was born in Welland on May 13, 1956, and grew up in Wainfleet. In 1980, he met Sandra, and they married in 1983, settling in Niagara-on-the-Lake to raise their family. Rick was a dedicated truck driver whose quiet and gentle nature left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. He was a devoted family man who loved spending time with those closest to him. Rick was also a passionate sports fan who faithfully cheered on his teams, the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Bills. He will always be remembered for his kind heart and deep love for his family.
In keeping with Rick’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and a private family celebration of life has been held. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the compassionate staff at Hamilton General Hospital and the Toronto General Hospital CICU and CVICU for their care.
To honour Rick’s memory, please consider a simple act of kindness by signing up to be an organ donor through the Trillium Gift of Life Network, which facilitates organ retrieval and donation programs.
