Contact Us Anytime
Obituary of Paul Vanderwoude
Paul (Paulus) Vanderwoude was born in Holwerd, Friesland, the Netherlands on July 30, 1929 to Pieter and Aaltje van der Woude who farmed outside of Holwerd. Paul was the third child of five children born to them, Egbert, Djoke, Paulus, little Lammert (who died as a baby) and Lammert.
He went to school in Holwerd learning the Fries, Dutch and German languages and then on to two years of Agricultural college. Paul trained 4 years in the Dutch army. He attended the Christian Reformed Church and was a member there with his family. He left for Canada on June 21, 1952 on the SS Rijndam arriving to Pier No. 21 at Halifax, Nova Scotia where Paul celebrated his 23rd birthday the next month on Canadian soil not knowing a single word of English. From there he travelled by train to Belleville, Ontario working on a farm before going to Oshawa, Ontario where he worked construction learning English along the way. Always adventurous Paul joined the harvest excursion threshing and traveling all across Canada to Alberta where he worked on two farms before going to Vancouver and then back to Alberta settling in Calgary for a time. Paul went to Whitehorse in the Yukon in 1954 where he worked on a farm and in a gas station and became a Canadian citizen in 1957. Eric Erickson, a wrestling scout and trainer discovered him and trained him to wrestle. Paul was the Klondike Kid and moved to Calgary to Stu Hart’s to train further, work out and wrestle for the YMCA. He won a wrestling championship for Alberta in 1959 (Years later in 1994 Paul came to Calgary to watch his grandson, John Boyko wrestle and win first place in the City Wrestling Championship Tournament! Paul was so excited and thrilled to be part of that day). He was a strong man from all that farm work over the years and at 6 feet 4 inches and 230 pounds he could bench press 400lbs. But what happened next was what Paul speaks of as being the most important day of his life. On March 27, 1960 Paul had the conversion experience of being born again (John 3:3-5) and his life changed forever. He gave up the life of wrestling to train to be a Municipal Police Officer wanting to serve God and help others. In May 1960 he joined the police force in Sylvan Lake, Alberta and then in Forestburg, Alberta. One Sunday at church he shared a hymnal with Flora Ellen Heffel and as they got to know each other, their love bloomed. They got married on July 15th, 1961 and moved to Sedgewick, Alberta in 1964 when Paul took the position of Municipal Police Officer for the County of Flagstaff. Paul and Flora raised their 4 children, Peter, Joy, Lorne and Deneena in Sedgewick taking them camping each summer. When mail came from Holland, Flora would sit on Paul’s knee and translate the letters as she learned the language. As kids we loved hearing the stories of our Dad growing up and of his family over there too. We were so excited to spend 3 summers in Holland with our grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. Paul also took his family to Maryfield, Saskatchewan each summer to visit with Flora’s family, the Sweetings and to camp in the prairie provinces. Paul taught Sunday School to the little kids at church and always was known for having a good stock of Dutch peppermints with him to hand out. He enjoyed his hobbies of reading, bee keeping, traveling and helping out with Killam Baptist’s service for the seniors at the Flagstaff Lodge. Paul retired in May, 1992 after 32 years of police service and was awarded a Service Award by the Canadian Government for service rendered. Paul and Flora then travelled across Canada camping and exploring and enjoyed lengthy stays in P.E.I. They went to the Netherlands to visit family and were blessed to become grandparents, Pake and Beppe. Paul now had time to spend on building things in his wood shop for many people. With Paul at her side caring for her, Flora battled cancer and passed away after 43 years of marriage at the age of 63 in Jan. 22, 2004. Paul travelled through Canada, the USA and Europe. He became very self sufficient around the house and liked to cook and invite people over. He learned to make the best raisin bread ever.
On May 1, 2005 Paul married Margaret Plett and they lived in Landmark, Manitoba. Paul passed on to Margaret his travel bug and they went to places she never knew she would ever see. Dad lovingly took on the role of caregiver again when Margaret became ill with cancer. They were married 7 ½ years. Margaret passed away in 2012.
In 2013 Paul married Lillian Wiebe and they lived in Kleefeld, Manitoba. Although they both were in their 80’s they travelled extensively in Europe and camped from one end of Canada to the other with Paul showing Lillian all his favorite places. With a servant's heart of caring always for others first, Paul cared for Lillian until her passing on January 8, 2020.
Unable in the last year to travel afar Paul loved to go on country drives, play dominos, sing hymns, read and spend time praying for all his family and friends near and far. He remembered birthdays and anniversaries of family here and in Holland and even though he lived far away we always felt close to him and loved it when he phoned or visited. Paul continued to live on his own with the help of his long-time dear friends (we call them angels), Anna and George Braun, and Janneke and Ronald Hamstra and their children, who lovingly took care of him until his passing on December 15, 2020. He peacefully slipped away to heaven, his eternal home to join so many of his loved ones, family, and friends who have gone on before him. He often spoke of his eagerness to be with God, his Heavenly Father and we live in the Hope of seeing him again.
Paul was predeceased by his parents and brothers.
He will be lovingly missed by his children:
Son Peter + Laurie, Amber and Brooke Vanderwoude
Daughter Joy + Dave Boyko, John, James+Milissa, Daniel+Chantelle and great granddaughter Flora, Peter, Grace, Anthony, Michael and Gabriella
Son Lorne + Gwen Vanderwoude
Daughter Deneena + Paul Hughes, Kate, Kennedy+Logan, Georgia, Brett and Sophia
His sister Djoke, all his nieces, nephews, cousins and their families in the Netherlands
His Sister-in-law Sybil Williams, Brother and sister-in-law Morris + Gwen Heffel and his nieces and nephews and their families in Canada and many friends all over the world
Dad, your example of living the Christian faith will always be remembered, your memory is everlasting, always loved and forever missed.
Psalm 16:11 “You made known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
