van Nieuwkerk (nee deRaaf:) – Maartje van Nieuwkerk, beloved wife of the late Hank van Nieuwkerk, passed away peacefully into God’s hands, with her family at her side in the Brooks Health Centre – Long Term Care on April 1, 2005 at the age of 76 years. Born in Naaldwyk, Holland on August 23, 1928 Maartje received all her education in Holland. She attended finishing school becoming a very skilled seamstress. Maartje and Hank were married on October 13, 1949 and shortly thereafter, in 1951, they immigrated to Canada to start a new life. After residing in the Rosemary – Bassano area and in Dundas, Ontario they settled in Tilley in 1961 on the Murray Ranch for 27 years until retiring to Brooks in 1988. They moved into Newbrook Lodge in 2001 and Maartje moved to Long Term Care in January of 2005. Maartje was a devote Christian singing in numerous choirs and loved listening to gospel music. She also loved flowers, reading, sewing, quilting, needlepoint and swimming. In her later years her happiest moments were her visits and phone calls from her children and grandchildren. She will be remembered for her honesty, her nurturing ways and her love for others. Maartje was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Hank on April 17, 2003; her parents Adrian de Raaf in 1985 and Klazina deRaaf in 1999; her brother Jan of Holland in 1946 and a sister Willie of Lacombe in 1985. Her family was her pride and joy. Maartje will be sadly missed by her loving family – 2 sons, Dick (Colleen) of Grande Prairie and Art (Darlene) of Grande Prairie; 2 daughters, Linda (Orval) Shantz of Brooks and Cathy (Dave) Thome of Medicine Hat; 10 grandchildren, Jason (Michelle), Jeremy, Josh, Ryan, Brian, Mark, Sherry (Boyd), Mindy, Heidi and Nathan and 5 great grandchildren, Darrian, Rylie, Tyler, Zachary and Spencer. She is also survived by one sister Annie (Leen) van Nieuwkerk of Bashaw; in laws Arie van Nieuwkerk of Brooks, William (Maartje) van Nieuwkerk of Australia, Marie (Frans) Boers of Dundas, Ontario, Joop (Martin ) Huis of Holland; Tina (Frans) den Harder of Holland and numerous, nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, April 6, 2005 from the Christian Reformed Church, Brooks with Rev. Andrew Joosse officiating. Honorary Pallbearers are grandchildren, Sherry Craven, Mindy Cockerill, Heidi Cockerill and Nathan Thome. Active Pallbearers are grandsons, Jason van Nieuwkerk, Ryan van Nieuwkerk, Jeremy van Nieuwkerk, Brian Shantz, Joshua van Nieuwkerk and Mark Shantz. In memory of Maartje, if friends desire memorial tributes may be made to either Brooks and District Health Foundation, Bag 300, Brooks T1R 1B3 or Gideon Bible, Box 85, Gem, Alberta T1R 1M0. Arrangements in care of SMITH FUNERAL HOME. Telephone 362-4636 or (866) 362-4562.
