A Life Lived
September 6, 1924 - August 13, 2017
Bert Bouma passed away in Kelowna, British Columbia on Sunday, August 13, 2017 at the age of 92. Bert was born in the Netherlands on September 6, 1924. Trained in physical education and employed as a high school teacher in that subject, he married Emma in 1951 before immigrating to Canada later that year. They arrived in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in early winter and were soon motivated to move to Vancouver where, the following summer, the first of their 4 chirldren was born.
As immigrants, the couple worked hard adapting to their new lives and making their way in the world, while their family grew. Bert’s employment took him and his family around Canada: Chilliwack, Kelowna, and in the early 60’s, eastward to Oshawa, Ottawa and Mississauga. Ultimately his travels culminated in a permanent return to Kelowna in 1986, after retiring from a near twenty-year career with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Here Bert and Emma enjoyed the next 30 years of life together in one of the country’s great communities. Between skiing, tennis, hiking, badminton, bridge, an active social life, helping his dear wife with her thriving artistic pursuits, and plenty of travel to visit friends and family in Canada and around the world, the years flew by. It may not all have been perfect, but it was pretty close.
He was a kind and loving man, intelligent and sympathetic, loyal and faithful, and he adored his wife of 66 years. His pride in his children and their growing families enriched his retired life. His ready smile, genial dispostion, twinkling blue eyes and readiness to talk with both friends and strangers made him a real charmer. He was deeply loved by his family and will be missed always.
Bert is survived by his wife Emma (Emmy) Bouma (nee Van Winckel), his children Bastiaan, Paul, Anita and Robert, their spouses, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions: Mountain View Village C/O The Good Samaritan Society