We sure hope our dad makes it to his memorial this week—he might be too busy!! He’s got things to do, you know!
It is with heartbreaking sadness that our beloved dad’s journey here has come to an end. WILLIAM WIERSMA passed away peacefully in Lethbridge, AB with family by his side after a two year fight with bladder cancer. He was 80 years old.
He is survived by his four loving children, Lorry & Murray Dorren, James & Deb Wiersma, Cindy & Mark Matheson, and Dwight & Kelsey Wiersma; ten grandchildren, Sarah (Liam) Plunkett, Brayden & Kolby Dorren, Caitlin Wiersma, Cody (Samantha) Wiersma, Spencer (Alysha) Matheson, Finley Matheson, and Lizzy, Lee & Lucas Wiersma; and four great-grandchildren, Austin & Rowan Poytress, and Lyla & Brexton Plunkett. He is also survived by his two sisters, Tine & Folkje, and his brother, Tette Wiersma, along with their families in Holland. We will all miss him dearly.
He was predeceased by his wife and our lovely mother, Elisabeth Reurink, in January 1994; his parents, Wijbren Wiersma & Gritje de Vries (Holland), and his brothers, Theo (Golden, BC) and Al Wiersma (Bonnyville, AB), along with many extended family members.
Bill was born January 29, 1939 in Burgwerd, Holland. He came to Canada in May 1957. He boarded the ship S.S. Groote Beer in Rotterdam when he was 18 years old along with his brother Theo. They ported in Montreal after a two week trip across the Atlantic ocean. He then took a cattle train across Canada to Southern Alberta, where he built a wonderful life. He lived in Picture Butte where he butchered meat, met and married a beautiful bride, and filled his life with four children. In 1973 he moved to Lethbridge where he worked at Canada Packers for most of his career.
He was extremely passionate about hunting and fishing and filled our house with many trophies of his accomplishments. He loved shooting his bow, tying flies for fishing, and counting the blue birds in the Crowsnest Pass. He always had an amazing story to tell about his many adventures. He was still climbing mountains until cancer slowed him down over the past two years. He continued to fish often in Mission with his good friend Len and loved going to see the fellas for coffee most days.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. with Reverend Glenda Wert officiating.
Please honour our dad’s passion for the outdoors by wearing your favourite fishing, hunting or camo attire on Thursday.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Wiersma William Bill January 29 1939..
Death notice for the town of: Lethbridge, Province: Alberta