Tony Mulder
June 7, 1934 - June 21, 2023
Regretfully, the family of Tony Mulder shares with you the news of his passing, on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in his 90th year of life. Surrounded by the love of his family, Tony left this world sharing with them that “he did it all!”
Surviving WW2 as a young boy in the Netherlands, he grew up to immigrate to New Brunswick in 1955, where his then girlfriend and soon-to-be wife, Miep, joined him in 1957. They married in 1958 and began their family adventures together, landing in London, Ontario.
The pair welcomed three boys in the early 60s before his diagnosis of MS was given in 1972. That didn’t stop Tony from powering through to provide for his family and even having son number four with Miep! Owner and longtime operator of Mulder’s Meats in Lambeth, Tony’s entrepreneurial spirit carried him through 24 years in the community as the local butcher. Later he closed the business only to find a new hustle in restaurant equipment sales.
If you have been in the food business long enough, you may remember Tony wheeling around Covenant Market, Trails End, all of the downtown summer festivals or from sunrise to sunset during the Western Fair every year. Perhaps you helped him with his scooter in and out of his van, had a chat over a coffee or waited in line for some food truck fare.
Known for his willful determination, his love of birds and fancy harmonica playing skills, Tony will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 65 years, Miep, his four sons and daughters-in-law, Mike (Lillian), Rene (Sarah), Mark (Andrea) and Justin (Christina). His grandchildren Christen (Matt), Amanda (Andrew), Shelby (Brandon), Christopher (Ashley), Eric, Justine (Nick), Paige, Cameron, Emma and Gabriella and his great-grandchildren Caleb, Edison and Gilbert will miss his Dad/Opa jokes, quick wit and birthday card doodles. Tony is also survived by his three brothers Jos, Ted (Carolynne) and Jerry (Carolyn) and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Tony is predeceased by his parents Johannes and Everdina Mulder; siblings John, Nick, Bill, Anne Marie; his brothers-in-law Richard and Doug; and sadly his granddaughter Ashley.
His family would like to especially thank Tony’s medical team, Dr. Sonuga, Dr. Razvi and Dr. Khan. Special praise to the team of caring professionals at Meadow Park Long Term Care, for the support he received in his last days. There are no words of gratitude to adequately express the family’s admiration for their mother Miep, who made “it all” possible for Tony, and was his primary care giver right up until his inevitable admittance to long term care in April.
A celebration of Tony’s life will be held at Westview Funeral Chapel, 709 Wonderland Road West, London on Friday, June 30, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., with reflection from family and friends to begin at noon. A livestream of the service is available for those who are unable to attend in person. To register for the livestream, please click here:
Celebration of Life for Tony Mulder
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to kindly consider donations be made in Tony’s honor to the MS Society of Canada, and raise a cold glass of beer under the hot summer sun to toast a life well lived! Rest well Dad!
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I had an amazing 37 years with my Opa, and Caleb had 13 years with his Great Opa, which is a blessing that not many people can say they had. He was a warrior his whole life, and was undoubtedly proud of his entire family. Love you Opa, farewell, until we meet again xoxo yours, Chrissy
Dear Tony, All the best! And we will meet again! Jan Willem IJsseldijk
My deepest condolences to Miep and family. I will always remember uncle Tony for his zest of life and great sense of humour! On a visit to London in my younger years we were eating at a restaurant and there was sauerkraut on the sidewalk (I think uncle Tony threw it there). So each person who walked by, he would yell - don’t step on the sauerkraut!!! and laugh his head off! I can still remember that so vividly. He made the world a better place and left behind a legacy with his wonderful family.
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Sorry to hear of Tony's passing. It brings back many great memories of us raising our children at Our Lady Of Lourdes School and Sacred Heart Parish. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Tiny and Joe Overmars
Dear Opa, Your ability to overcome all of life’s crazy challenges thrown at you was truly remarkable and inspiring, and has taught me to be incredibly thankful for the life I have. I will forever cherish all of the memories we made together and continue to carry out our traditions in your memory. My favourite memory will always be our day trips to grand bend in the summer and I can’t wait to take Oma there soon and cheers a corona in your memory. I am so lucky and grateful to be called your granddaughter, I am going to miss you so much! I love you Opa, love Paige.
I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of “Mr. Mulder”. My condolences to Miep, Mike, Rene, Mark, and Justin and all of your families. I have many great memories of growing up next door to Tony and the Mulders. The chicken barn/shed, the shallow pool, the basement floods, and so much more. A couple specific memories of Tony from my childhood: one day my mom stabbed her finger with fork as she was closing a drawer. Through her finger. No one else was home so she went next door for help. Problem is, even though Tony was a butcher, he couldn’t tolerate the sight of human blood. I don’t think that situation ended well. The other story is how Tony used to get out of his butcher shop parking lot. It was on the southeast corner of highways 2 and 4 in Lambeth … a very busy intersection. Instead of waiting for a gap which never came, he would gradually roll his big car out into the road until people stopped to let him through. He was a character! Thanks for all of the great memories Tony and family! It was a great childhood in Delaware next to the Mulders.
After reading your Father's beautiful obituary today, there is no doubt that one of Mark Twain's famous quotes applies to your Dad's passing: "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Your Dad sounds like he was a truly amazing man. We're thinking of you Mike, Lillian and family.
So sorry to hear of Tony's passing. It always was a highlight of my day when Tony would come into our yard. We had many laughs over the years together. Rest in peace Tony.
A donation has been made to MS Society of Canada. Message from the donator: We offer our sincere condolences to the family on the loss of Tony. Dinah Leslie and Leoni Paquette
Opa, It was a pleasure getting to know you over these past few years. Always greeting me with a warm smile and letting me know that I "looked healthy", you seemed to radiate optimism. You were truly one of a kind and will be sorely missed. My condolences to all of the family.
Dear Opa, You taught me how to be loving, incredibly strong, and to appreciate what you have in life. I will miss all your hilarious (and sometimes wildly inappropriate) jokes, morning trips to the coffee shop (Tim Hortons), and listening to you play your harmonica. Your incredible work ethic and perseverance in life are things I will look up to forever. I was fortunate enough to spend your 89th birthday with you on June 7th (pictured below). It was filled with smiles, laughs, sunshine, birthday cake, coronas and amazing grace on the harmonica. I will remember this day forever. I love you so much and will miss you, Opa! Rest in the sweetest peace. Love, Justine xoxo
My thoughts are with you and your family at such a sad time. Hold on to your beautiful memories…they will always be with you ❤️
Dad, thanks for all the life gifts you equipped myself (and all your boys) with including - Never complain about health issues, appreciate and use what you have. - Perserverance when odds seem incredible (MS at 38 years and never fully succumbed to a wheel chair even up to 89). - What a 2nd-to-none work ethic can do. Never relied ever on financial assistance from others. - The value of family. - So many others.... An honor to be your son. So many wonderful memories to sustain all of us left behind. I'll see you 'on the other side'. With infinite love...
My deepest condolences to all of the family. Tony will be missed but will remain in our hearts and never forgotten. Sending love and hugs to everyone. Tony & Marie Ciotti
Dear Miep, Justin and Family, Please accept our sincere sympathy in the loss of your dear husband, Dad ,Opa,and siblings. Tony was such an amazing, welcoming fellow, He will be missed by so many people. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Rest in peace Tony!
Services for Tony Mulder
Celebration of Life will be held at:
Westview Funeral Chapel
709 Wonderland Road North,
London, Ontario
June 30, 2023 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
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Mike, we are so very sorry to hear of the recent passing of your father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Condolences to you all.
~ Jamie & Sarah Angood