Willem "Bill" GROENEWOUD

GROENEWOUD, Willem
October 6, 1924 - Rheden, Netherlands
February 20, 2018 – Calgary, Alberta
It is with sadness that the Groenewoud family announce that Willem (Bill) Groenewoud passed away on Tuesday, February 20. Willem was born on October 6, 1924 in Rheden, The Netherlands to Willem and Johanna. Bill studied Tropical Horticulture and spent four years in Indonesia working with tea, coffee, rubber and palm oil on the islands of Sumatra and Java. Bill immigrated to Canada in 1954. He became reacquainted with a classmate, Catharina (Wilma) Van Koeveringe with whom he shared a birthday and they married on September 28, 1957. She passed away on November 28, 2016 after celebrating their 59th anniversary. After immigrating, he quickly became involved with seismic work. He worked as a geophysicist with Canadian Superior Oil and Mobil Oil before retiring in 1986. Bill enjoyed the Alberta foothills especially the Water Valley area where he and Wilma had a second home. He especially enjoyed taking visitors on trips through the Foothills and Rocky Mountains to the West Coast of British Columbia. As well, he and Wilma went on many visits to Ontario and the Netherlands. Bill will be missed, but fondly remembered by his children, Willem and Leo (Shanne Matthews) of Calgary, Yolanda (Doron Sagman) of Toronto, ON, and Robert of Lacombe, AB; grandchildren, Rosalind Groenewoud of Vancouver, BC, Luke Groenewoud of Vancouver, BC, Aaron, Joel and Evan Sagman of Toronto, ON; as well as numerous nieces and nephews in the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States. He is also survived by his youngest sister Taty Klein-Groenewoud of Leeuwarden, The Netherlands and two sisters-in-law Geertruida Groenewoud-Van Roest of Enschede, The Netherlands and Jeanette Groenewoud-Beusman of Geulle, The Netherlands. Bill was predeceased by his wife Catharina (Wilma) Groenewoud (nee Van Koeveringe); his parents, Willem and Johanna; brothers Jan and Bart and sisters Janny Durtler and Fia. Funeral Services will be held at River Park Church 3818 14A Street SW on Friday, March 9, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow at the church. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Friendship Ministries of River Park Church , 3818 14A Street SW, http:/ /www.riverparkchurch.com/ministries/ friendship/ Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Willem Groenewoud, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park.