Obituary of Jason Geerts

“It’s not the years in your life that count… It’s the amount of life and love you had in your years.”

Jason Peter Geerts, “Gertzy”, 35, of Springfield, Ontario, passed away peacefully on Friday March 8, 2019, surrounded by those closest to him. Jason fought courageously and inspirationally against his ALS diagnosis for the past two years but unfortunately his body simply had enough. 

Jason was born on June 15th, 1983 in London, Ontario to Chris and Geraldine Geerts; he was the third of four children. He had a passion for sports, especially hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs, fishing, two-stepping and most importantly, making people laugh. He was constantly referred to as ‘the life of any party’ and ‘one loud Dutchman’. Growing up on a dairy farm, Jason knew the value of hard work and transferred this into his everyday life. He also knew the value of having a close, loving family and many friendships; a testament to how he was raised. While growing up, Jason always had the ambition of becoming a police officer. As a stepping stone to his career choice, Jason graduated from Fanshawe College in 2004 with Police Foundations, soon afterwards accepting a job with the London Health Sciences Centre as a Security Officer. Jason met the love of his life, Brandie Shackleton-Verbuyst in 2002 and would later marry her in August 2009; they had two sons together. In 2008, Jason fulfilled his career aspirations by proudly becoming a police officer with the Guelph Police Service. After working there for 7 years, Jason transferred to Woodstock Police Services so he could be closer to his family. In 2016, just prior to being devastatingly diagnosed with ALS, Jason was promoted to Detective; a position he greatly admired and respected. Jason was also a member of the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve for 12 years throughout this time, before retiring in 2014. Jason’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he interacted with; he may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.

Jason is survived by his wife of nine years, Brandie Geerts, sons Ethan Geerts and Brody Geerts, father Chris Geerts, mother Geraldine Geerts (Berkelmans), mother-in-law Bonnie Shackelton, father-in-law Brian Verbuyst(Diana), sister Christy Smith (Geerts), brothers Brian Geerts and Shaun Geerts, sister-in-laws Anita Geerts (Menich) and Kristen Vidlak, brother-in-laws Marty Smith, Brent Verbuyst and Mitch Verbuyst, niece Kayle Smith, nephews Mavin Smith, Sheldon Geerts and Quinn Geerts along with many loving extended family members. He was preceded in death by his Opa and Oma Peter and Catherine Geerts, along with his Opa and Oma Peter and Clasina Berkelmans.

The family would like to relay a special thank you to Jason’s amazing and dedicated team of caregivers. They will be forever grateful to the outstanding care provided in the home which enabled Jason the comfort of being close to those he loved throughout his whole debilitating journey battling ALS.

Visitations for Jason Geerts will be held at Kebbels Funeral Home at 119 Talbot Street East, Aylmer, on Wednesday March 13, 2019 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm and Thursday March 14, 2019 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. A Funeral Service in celebration of Jason will be taking place at the East Elgin Community Complex (East Link ice pad) at 531 Talbot St. W, Aylmer on Saturday March 16, 2019 at 11:00am. Serving as pallbearers will be Brian Geerts, Christy Smith, Shaun Geerts, Marty Smith, Brent Verbuyst, Mitch Verbuyst, Matt Lynch and Matt McNabb. Interment will be taking place immediately after the service for immediate family members in the family plot at the Dorchester Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that memorial donations be made to the Aylmer Minor Hockey Association. Jason had many fond memories playing for the  Aylmer Spitfires Junior C team and his sons are currently involved with the Aylmer Flames.