Wilhelmus Marinus (Bill) Doorn was born into a large Dutch family of 12 and left when he was 18 to serve in the Dutch Army in Indonesia. He returned to Holland to work on the family farm before immigrating to Calgary in 1955. It was there that he met and married Corry also from Holland, and their first three children – Pat, Gerard and Mary Jane were born to them there. He graduated from SAIT as an electrician and after working throughout Alberta and BC, he moved the family to Enderby in 1966. He then purchased an electrical company, now known as Mountain View Electric, with his partner Ken Holmes. Together they operated the business for more than 30 years. Shortly after they arrived in Enderby they welcomed their fourth child Corine and settled into the community.
During their years in Enderby, Bill was a School District 89 trustee for many years and a very active member of St. Ann’s Catholic church. Together they raised their family and as he neared retirement his sons Pat and Gerard bought the business so he could enjoy annual trips to Maui in the winter. Bill’s idea of retirement was keeping busy with work. Gardening, yardwork, organizing, and helping at the shop was relaxing to him. He enjoyed weekly card games with his circle of Dutch friends and spending time with his family at the cabin in Blind Bay on Shuswap Lake.
Sundays consisted of Church and bringing the family together for brunch and a visit. Family was at the heart of the home and although hard of hearing and continually saying ‘you have to talk slower’, he was happiest when the kids and grandchildren were around.
After almost 54 years of marriage, Corry passed away in 2014. At the age of 88, Bill married Gail Wiebe in 2015, which gave him great joy spending time with her and the many grandchildren of this blended family. Sadly Gail passed suddenly in 2017.
Bill will be lovingly remembered by his children Pat (Donna), Gerard (Ann), Mary Jane (Mark) and Corine (Bob) as well as his grandchildren Danielle (Keegan), Kristen (Collin), Billy (Bianca), Kaitlyn, Britney (Curtis), Kelsey (Kevin), Courtney (Ryan), Lindsey, Christopher, Amy and Kiera, 6 great grandchildren as well as 4 step-children and 14 step-grandchildren from the Wiebe family.
The family would like to thank the compassionate staff of Parkview Place who helped make his final months more enjoyable.
A service will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Enderby on Friday, March 18th at 11:30am.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Wilhelmus Bill Marinus Doorn March 9th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Armstrong, Province: Colombie britanique