Wiebren Melle “Mel” Hoeksma passed away on Monday, March 1, 2022 at Chatham Kent Health Alliance. Born in Tietjertk, The Netherlands 68 years ago. Predeceased by his father Wiebren Hoeksma and step father Frank deJonge but survived by his mother Dieuwke “Dorothy” deJonge.  Husband of Linda (Lewis, Desat). Step father of Jeremy Desat and Brittany Desat (Tony Vanderlei).  Grandfather of Owen, Keagan, Makenna and Gryphon Maynard. Survived by siblings Andy Hoeksma (Marilyn) of Port Lambton, Irene Davelaar (Dan) of Lyndhurst, and step siblings; Anne Foekens (Adrian) of Thunder Bay, Elly MacKinnon (Steve) of Thunder Bay, John deJonge of B.C., Frank deJonge (Florence) of Marathon, Linda Keats (Dan) of Swansea Point B.C., Yvonne George (Pat) of Wallaceburg.  Brother in law of Bryan Lewis (Tracy) of Chatham, Nancy Bowes (Scott) of Chatham and Mike Clouthier (Mariette) of Amherstburg.  Also survived by father in law Robert Lewis (Dorothy) of LaSalle.  Predeceased by mothers in law Helen Daymond and Maureen Lewis.  Survived by many nieces and nephews. Mel immigrated to Canada with his family in 1957 where they settled in Dresden and later moved to Wallaceburg. He graduated from both WDSS and later University of Guelph where he studied agriculture. After graduating he joined the Navy as an Officer Cadet at CFB Esquimalt. He received his commission but decided to return to Wallaceburg to pursue his passion for agriculture.  Mel accredited his love for agriculture  to time spent helping on the farms of  Andy and Sandra DeVries and Henry and Lammie Oost.  For the last 17 years Mel has been employed at Tahgahoning Enterprises, Walpole Island First Nations, where he learned to be most proud of a “good crop”. His commitment even drove him to work by phone from his hospital bed in his last days. He enjoyed reading about history, bird watching, playing chess, camping and his various dogs over the years but his favourite thing was vacations spent with the grandkids.  Mel had a great sense of humour and could laugh at himself. Mel will be greatly missed by all that knew him.  A private celebration of his life will take place at a later date.  Those wishing to make a memorial donation are asked to consider the Wallaceburg Legion or the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation .  In recognition of Mel’s love of agriculture please feel free to plant trees in his memory . Rest in Peace and remember sultry summer days when we planted pits and seeds among mom’s roses to see what fruit they’d bear.  Love Tjits