Obituary
With abiding love and gratitude for his many gifts, we share the passing of Bob~Bauke~Broersma.
Born August.19.1929 Leeuwarden, Friesland, The Netherlands
Died March.28.2022 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Bob will always be loved and cherished beyond measure by Dorothy, his beloved wife and fellow adventurer of over 64 years, and by their devoted daughter Janita and her husband Jac.
Bob is survived and dearly missed by his sister Gepke, in-laws, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family, friends, and colleagues throughout Canada, The Netherlands, and Australia.
He was an extraordinary man who lived a great adventure of rich experiences personal and professional. Following his formal education and military service in The Royal Netherlands Air Force, Koninklijke Luchtmacht, he emigrated from The Netherlands to Canada in 1957 with his equally courageous bride Dorothy. Side by side they grew and prospered and welcomed their only child, Janita, to share their wide, wide world. They welcomed innumerable guests into their home and proudly shared the beauty of Alberta’s Rockies and wide-open spaces.
Bob’s working life was as varied as his skills and interests, including journalism, advertising, and sales, eventually coalescing into a decades-long career with Advantage Through Concord A.T.C., a Dutch Canadian cooperative that ventured into the word of jet airliner charter flights between Canada and Western Europe in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was also the General Manager of Edmonton’s Holland House, hosting thousands of weddings, receptions, cultural and domestic gatherings, and annual Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) parties for children and adults alike.
Through the cooperative: he orchestrated the gift of a Dutch Barrel Organ to the City of Edmonton, arranged the first-ever Canadian performances of the renowned Maastrichter Staar men’s Choir, and brought a genuine Canadian Barbeque, compete with Alberta beef, to the centre square of Maastricht. He was an ambassador for his countries, formally recognized for fostering relationships, cultural understanding and trade.
He lived by and shared his credo: “Nothing in life is important unless you can share it with someone. Do something for yourself by doing something good for someone else”.
Bob was cremated on April 8, 2022, amidst 92 red roses and the soaring beauty of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5, Emperor Concerto (Casadesus performance). A celebration of Bob’s life is planned for a later date. Message of condolence and remembrance are welcome at [email protected]
