He was born on June 18, 1939, in Tilburg, North Brabant, the Netherlands, the seventh of nine children born to Paulus Raaijmakers and Cornelia Johanna Maria Snoeren Raaijmakers.

From those early beginnings in the Netherlands, he went on to build a life filled with family, friendships, and many stories that are still shared today.

On February 23, 1961, he married Hermina (Mimi) Van Eck in Tilburg. In 1962, they immigrated to Canada with their eldest daughter, Lia, and settled in Creston, British Columbia in 1963, where Dad began work in the sawmill. There they welcomed their second daughter, Francie. After several years, the family moved to Calgary, Alberta, where their third daughter, Yvonne, was born. During this time, he worked as a bricklayer before becoming a journeyman baker, completing his apprenticeship with Safeway.

By the early 1970s, baking had become his true calling. In 1973, Mom and Dad returned to Creston and purchased the Creston Valley Bakery. In 1978, they moved back to Calgary, where Dad continued his baking career and eventually became a bakery manager with Safeway. Although they spent many years in Calgary, Dad’s love for the Creston Valley never faded. In 1989, Mom and Dad retired back to Creston, where he remained deeply connected to the community.

Dad proudly served in the Dutch military before immigrating to Canada and later became a dedicated member of the Royal Canadian Legion. In 2023, he was presented with a medal recognizing 50 years of membership, an honour he was very proud to receive. Dad loved spending time at the Legion. He rarely missed the dances, often taking Mom out onto the floor, and he especially enjoyed the meat draws — something we knew would be a highlight whenever we were there visiting. And of course, no trip to the Legion was complete without purchasing a few pull-tabs.

In his younger years, Dad enjoyed hunting with his brother-in-law, Connie Brunham, but fishing was truly his passion. He spent many happy days at Cummings Resort on Kootenay Lake. Summers there created countless family memories, and for a time Dad helped with maintenance and repairs around the resort. The lake community at Cummings became an important part of their lives.

Dad enjoyed cribbage, darts, billiards, and spending time with friends. He was also quite skilled at clock and watch repairs, and many people in Creston came to him for help fixing treasured timepieces. Garage sales were another favorite pastime — Dad would stop at every one he saw, even if he had somewhere else to be. The treasures he and Mom found were often remarkable.

Dad loved giving watches as gifts. One of his granddaughters still has a collection of more than a dozen watches from her Opa. Whenever he gave one away, he would say with a smile, “Don’t say I never gave you anything.”

He was always ready to lend a hand and was known for his sense of humor and his ability to make people laugh. We, his three daughters, remember how he would always try to lift our spirits with his one-liners and optimistic sayings. One that stayed with us was his reminder that there were always “Better days to come.”

Dad also had many dear friends in Creston over the years. Tim, you meant a great deal to him, and we want you to know how much we appreciate the friendship you shared with our dad.

Dad was predeceased by our mom in 2015, and by seven of his siblings. He is survived by his daughters, Lia Mason (Craig), Francie Hawthorne (Doug), and Yvonne Raaymakers (Mark); his seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Mason, Eric Hawthorne, Nicole Mason Wanvig, Kyle Flemmer, Emily Hawthorne Plotnikoff, Mandy Flemmer Alzner, and Liam Small; eleven great-grandchildren, with one more on the way; and his youngest brother, Adrianus (Ad) Albertus Paulus Raaijmakers of Medicine Hat, Alberta. Dad is also remembered by many nieces, nephews, and other family members in both the Netherlands and Canada who have fond memories of his warm and welcoming nature.

The last three years of Dad’s life were spent at Rocky Mountain Village in Fernie, where he found a sense of home. The wonderful staff and his housemates became part of his new community. Our family is deeply grateful to the staff and friends who cared for him and ensured he was surrounded by kindness and love.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date. Dad will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Creston, where he will join our mom.

After the challenges of recent years, we take comfort in imagining him now at peace — reunited with Mom, and with his memories once again his own.

‘Rubber Ducky, this is Wooden Shoe. Put the coffee on, I’m coming home.’

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion – Creston Valley Branch #29 or the Brain Canada Foundation in support of dementia research.

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