ARNOLD JANSEN SR.

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ARNOLD JANSEN SR. December 26, 1924 - September 1, 2012 It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our Dad, Husband and Grandpa, Arnold Jansen Sr. on September 1, 2012. Dad was born on December 26, 1924, in Bemmel, Netherlands, to Gradus and Hendrika Jansen. Dad was employed as an auto mechanic when he met Mom and they were married on July 5, 1951, in Holland. After the Second World War, with limited housing and job opportunities, Mom and Dad decided to look elsewhere to start their life together. On July 14, 1951, Mom and Dad left the Netherlands and started their 14 day passage on the Tourist Konrad Line to Canada. After landing at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, they took the train to Winnipeg. They were very proud to be called Canadians and received their Canadian Citizenships in 1958. They lived and worked on a farm in Waskada and then in Balmoral, Manitoba, where Dorothy was born. Mom and Dad settled in Stony Mountain and there Henrietta, Arnie, Yvonne and Gerry were born. Dad worked at the Stony Mountain Quarry, and then found permanent employment at Western Grocers (Westfair Foods) in Winnipeg until his retirement in 1985. Dad had six siblings - Bep (Cor); Doortje (Hank); Ben (Betsy); Geert (Toni); Hank (Paula); Dien (Hank) and many nieces and nephews all in Holland. Dad had a strong work ethic which he passed on to his children. Dad loved gardening and could always be found working in the yard, trimming, planting and changing the landscape on a regular basis. When Dad wasn't able to keep up with the yard anymore, Arnie took over (and with constant direction from Dad) the yard remained Dad's pride and joy. Dad was proud of his kids and their accomplishments and continually talked about us to the nurses and anyone that would listen. It was our privilege to help care for Dad in his final days. Dad was predeceased by his two grandsons, Daniel Kratzer and Doug Gibson. We know the boys will be there to meet Grandpa in his new adventure and will take care of him and show him the ropes. He leaves, in their childrens care, his wife, Wilhelmina, their children Dorothy and Gord (Adrienne and Adam); Henrietta and Richard, (Cynthia); Arnie and Kate, (Corey); Yvonne and Bud (Dawn-Marie); Gerry and Jody, (Kaleb, Brooke and Rachel). Mom and Dad taught us that family is important, to stay close to each other, to love each other unconditionally. We know we now have three angels watching over us. We want to thank Drs. Ventor and Pinniger, the nurses at Stonewall Hospital, especially Donna, Nicky, Mari-am and Theresa, homecare co-ordinators, Maureen Tully and Michelle Loehmer, and homecare staff for their care and compassion. A special thanks to Megan Olson for being such a wonderful neighbor to Mom and Dad. As Dad wished, there will be no formal service. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Dad's memory to the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, 105-500 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3C 3X1 or to the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, 70 Stevenson Road, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0W7. MacKenzie Funeral Home Stonewall in care of arrangements

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 04, 2012