Wilhelmus "Bill" VanDenBerg passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at his favourite place in the whole world - his home he built out in Beaver Creek.
He is survived by and will be forever missed by his wife of 63 years, Mary, daughters Nancy and Sonya (Doug), and family in the Netherlands, Vancouver and Saskatchewan.
Wilhemus was born in 1925 in the Netherlands. He emigrated to Canada on his honeymoon with Mary landing on the east coast of Canada by boat in 1952. Th ey worked for farmers in Saskatchewan, then mill work in Vernon, before ending up in Port Alberni. Dad worked for over thirty years as a planerman mechanic at Somass Mill. Willem’spassions were foremost his family, friends, farming,horses, gardening, cars and driving, old Western Dusters, nature shows and second helpings of good food. Dad was the happiest man with the simplest
of life’s pleasures and absolutely loved Port Alberni and Canada. He taught us all how to live a good and kind life and he was a true gentleman.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 2nd, Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church, 4731 Burke Road, with Father Stephen Paine officiating.