Owner/horseman Antonius 'Tony' Nooren of Melbourne, Ont. passed away at LHSC, Victoria Hospital on Sunday, September 16. He was in his 84th year.
Tony was the father of Anne Roberts (Patrick), Dan Ansems (Debbie), Mary Phillips, Sandy Beckwith (Keith), Diane Manuel (Munden), Sharon Counsell, and the late Bob Ansems. Brother of Nellie Van Hooydonk (Kees), Barbara Van den Broek (late Kees), Bertus Nooren (Minni), Ad Nooren, Gerry Nooren (Joanne), Ria Ansems (John), Joke Nooren (late Bertus), late Casey Nooren (Frances), Corrie Mommersteeg (late Michael), John Nooren (Aleida), Bernard Nooren (Liliane), Henrica Nooren (Wayne), and Harry Van Opstal (Marie). Also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Born in Ginneken, En Bavel, The Netherlands on September 24, 1928, Tony was the son of the late Henricus Nooren and the late Anna (nee Lansen) Nooren Van Opstal, and step-son of the late Gerard Van Opstal.
Tony farmed, and was very active in harness racing, as a proud owner, driver and trainer.
Relatives and friends will be received by the family at the Sifton Funeral Home, 118 Wellington St., St. Thomas (519-631-1160) on Tuesday, September 18 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A private family funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 19, followed by interment in Holy Angels’ Cemetery.
Emailed messages of condolence may be sent to [email protected].
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Antonius Nooren.
My deepest condolences to the
My deepest condolences to the family of Tony Nooren. Just a little story to tell about Tony. He was the only driver in history to beat the horse he was driving across the finish line. That's right, folks. I was the race secretary at Rodney Fair at the time when the horse Tony was driving went down just before the finish line and catapulted him across the line ahead of the horse. Tony picked himself up and when we wanted him to go to the hospital to get checked out, he declined because he said that he had to go dancing that night. Tony, we'll miss you.