GERARDUS (GERRY) MARIUS KOREMAN

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GERARDUS (GERRY) MARIUS KOREMAN Gerardus (Gerry) Marius Koreman was called to his heavenly home on November 26, 2017, after a valiant fight in response to a major stroke. His strong faith guided him and his family was by his side as he peacefully left this earthly world. He was 88 years young. Gerry was born in Haps, Netherlands on July 22, 1929, as the fourth of six boys. As a young man, he experienced both love and war resulting in much joy and tremendous pain. He lived through the Second World War, lost his mother and brother at a young age, and served with the Dutch army in Indonesia. He courageously moved to Canada in 1953 with one suitcase and a pocket full of change. He ended up in Manitoba where he became close to many Dutch and Canadian life-long friends. It is in Winnipeg that he met his wife Greta. They married in 1957 and eventually moved to the family home in Cooks Creek. Being an immigrant, he worked very hard as a new husband and father and eventually decided to start Koreman Concrete Flooring in 1966. It became a successful company and Gerry hired his sons, neighbours, friends, and those who needed help as he believed all people deserved a chance to work. Gerry was a 4th degree member and a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus in Cooks Creek as well as a dedicated member of St. Michael's parish. His final years were spent in the community of Oakbank where he was surrounded by friendly faces and loving hearts. Gerry leaves to mourn his beloved wife of 60 years, Greta, and eight children: Lucia (Craig) Olynyk of Owen Sound, ON, Hank (Diane Isfeld) of Winnipeg, Frank (Karen) of Winnipeg, Renee (Greg) Heuring of Dryden, ON, Gerry (Fern Tardiff) of Cooks Creek, Patrick of Beausejour, Diane (John) Gibson of Owen Sound, ON and Margaret (Steve Johnson) of Kitchener, ON. He also leaves to remember him nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild and another on the way. He has two brothers Piet (Marietje) from Belgium and Frans (Mientje) from the Netherlands, sister-in-law Nellie from the Netherlands, and many nieces and nephews that loved and admired him. He is joined in heaven by his father Frans, mother Lucia, stepmother Dina, three brothers Antoon, Martien and Henk, his daughter Carol Rosemary, and his grandson Joshua Olynyk. Thank you to the wonderful "family" at Kin Place who cared for him so lovingly in his final years. Thank you to the amazing communities of Cooks Creek and Oakbank, the devoted Dutch community, and our extended family and friends who have always, and will continue to surround our family with love and laughter. A special thank you to Seasons Funeral Chapel for the personalized service and the seamless funeral arrangements. We will honour Gerry's life with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Michael's Parish in Cooks Creek, MB on Friday, December 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m., viewing will be prior to the service and interment will follow at St. Michael's Cemetery. Although he requested to be buried "in a cardboard box in the backyard", we will lovingly place him in his grave in Cooks Creek. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kin Place Resident Council, St. Michael's Parish or Cooks Creek Community Centre. seasonsfunerals.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 29, 2017