Wout Van Gaal
1926-2021
Van Gaal, Wautherus Johannes (Wout) passed away peacefully at
the Victoria Glen Manor on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. Born December
28,1926 in Schaijk, Nord-Brabant in Holland to Siebert Van Gaal and
Berdina Van Kessel.
He was predeceased by his wife Antonia (Tony) Benkers (2010),
son Anthony (1982), sister Wilhelmena (Mien) Pynenburg (Ontario),
brothers Johannes (Jan) (Holland), Henricus (Harrie) (Holland) and
Wilhelmus (Wim) (New Zealand).
He is survived by his sister Grada van Kreij in Holland, and
his children Betsy (David) Coleman of Fredericton, Theo (Lise) of
Fredericton, Clymena (Robert) Brennan of Florenceville, Bernie
(Brenda) of Fort Augustus, PEI, Louis (Carmen) of Morrell Siding, Mary
(Gary Hughes) of Hanwell, and Joe (Carolyn) Grand Falls.
Eighteen grandchildren: Jennifer, Christopher,
Eric, Jason, Michelle, Ronnie, Jay, Bobby, Anthony, Meghan, Caitlin,
Willem, Ethan, Nick, Andrew, Monique, Toni and Morgan; and eleven
great-grandchildren will miss their “Opa”.
Wout and Tony sailed to Canada in 1951 and began married life
as farm labourers. They settled into the community of the
Lower Portage below Grand Falls and over the years built up a thriving
farm of their own. Their early years in Canada were hard ones, and
they gratefully remembered the support they received from the
community.
A man of deep faith and a lifetime farmer, the Saint
Patrick’s Church community was important to him and he could
be seen driving tractors well into his eighties. As the farm
grew, Wout made a point of supporting members of his community
whenever he saw the need. A visionary with insight into the politics
of the times – and deeply concerned over the plight of
Canadian family farms — he became involved with the National Farmers
Union and assumed leadership roles at both the regional and national
level through the 1970s and 1980s.
Our family wishes to express special thanks to Mireille
Crawley-Bowmaster, Donna Fournier and Galvin McKeough for the loving
care and support given to our father that allowed him to live in his
own home until very recently.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in his beloved
Saint Patrick’s Church, Grand Falls Portage on Monday, August 16th at
11 a.m. with interment to follow in the parish
cemetery.
For those who wish, donations to Saint Patrick’s Cemetery
Fund would be appreciated by the family.
Arrangements are by O’Regan’s Funeral Home
Ltd.
All are welcome to attend the funeral service
at the church where the family kindly requests social distancing be
respected to protect relatives and friends who are experiencing health
issues.
www.oregans.ca
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Wout Van Gaal 19262021..
Death notice for the town of: Grand-Falls, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick