Obituary for Albert deWitt
Albert (Ab) de Witt, Opende (Friesland) 8 March 1933 – Fergus, ON 29 August 2021
Immigrant, farmer, devout Christian, construction worker, devoted husband and loving father of four.
Early Sunday Morning August 29 the Lord took to himself his covenant child Albert DeWitt of Fergus. With his ready smile and irrepressible humor, Albert became a fixture in the construction scene of Fergus and area in the 1980s. A steady and skilled hand, devoted to supporting his family, Albert joined his parents and siblings in immigrating to Canada in 1948 and 1949 in search of a better future. Faithful members of the newly-formed Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland [Vrijgemaakt], they spearheaded efforts to found a congregation where they were in Georgetown. After a few hardscrabble years they established themselves on a farm in nearby Glenn Williams. Albert spent much of the 1950s as a bachelor construction worker on large-scale projects across Ontario. In 1963 he struck out on his own on a farmstead north of Fergus, and very shortly thereafter he met the love of his life, Baukje (Barbara) de Groot, a fellow believer visiting family and friends in the area on a vacation trip from The Netherlands. They were blessed with four children: John (1966-2021), David (1967), Lloyd (1967) and Joyce (1970). In an effort to secure the family’s future the couple switched to raising veal cattle in the late 1960s, until an epidemic threatened to wipe out years of frugality and hard work. The family was able to retreat to a home in town while their father returned to the trade of his youth. Albert subsequently developed a passion for angling, mostly for Northern Pike in the Grand River, and in various other Ontario settings. Often abrupt in public, he could otherwise be found at home reading, often history, and regretted not having been able to complete his education in Depression-era rural Friesland, despite the encouragement of teachers. Health problems precipitated an early retirement. In his final decade he could often be found at 10:00 every morning, joining his siblings for coffee at Tim Horton’s or McDonalds. His final years were troubled by encroaching dementia, and only through the valiant efforts of wife Baukje and daughter Joyce could he remain in the home the family occupied on Craighead Dr for 45 years, until his final months. His faith sustained him through the unexpectedly long and rich life with which the Lord blessed him. He is survived by daughter-in-law Doris, sons David (Franziska) and Lloyd (Christine), and daughter Joyce (Larry), and grandchildren David, Sam, Ida, Edgar, Seth, Madeline, Sanne, Brittany, Megan, as well as siblings Harry, Johanna, Hiske, Luitzen, Siebe and Doede (Bill). Predeceased by his son John and grandson Philip, and his brother Sjoerd (George).
Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 from 7-9 p.m. at the Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home, 280 St. David St. South, Fergus. A Funeral Service for Albert will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church, 600 Belsyde Ave East, Fergus. All attendees must wear a mask and practice social distancing. It is strongly recommended to RSVP through the funeral home website. www.grahamgiddyfh.com
Donations may be made to Groves Memorial Hospital or the Anchor Association.
Immigrant, farmer, devout Christian, construction worker, devoted husband and loving father of four.
Early Sunday Morning August 29 the Lord took to himself his covenant child Albert DeWitt of Fergus. With his ready smile and irrepressible humor, Albert became a fixture in the construction scene of Fergus and area in the 1980s. A steady and skilled hand, devoted to supporting his family, Albert joined his parents and siblings in immigrating to Canada in 1948 and 1949 in search of a better future. Faithful members of the newly-formed Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland [Vrijgemaakt], they spearheaded efforts to found a congregation where they were in Georgetown. After a few hardscrabble years they established themselves on a farm in nearby Glenn Williams. Albert spent much of the 1950s as a bachelor construction worker on large-scale projects across Ontario. In 1963 he struck out on his own on a farmstead north of Fergus, and very shortly thereafter he met the love of his life, Baukje (Barbara) de Groot, a fellow believer visiting family and friends in the area on a vacation trip from The Netherlands. They were blessed with four children: John (1966-2021), David (1967), Lloyd (1967) and Joyce (1970). In an effort to secure the family’s future the couple switched to raising veal cattle in the late 1960s, until an epidemic threatened to wipe out years of frugality and hard work. The family was able to retreat to a home in town while their father returned to the trade of his youth. Albert subsequently developed a passion for angling, mostly for Northern Pike in the Grand River, and in various other Ontario settings. Often abrupt in public, he could otherwise be found at home reading, often history, and regretted not having been able to complete his education in Depression-era rural Friesland, despite the encouragement of teachers. Health problems precipitated an early retirement. In his final decade he could often be found at 10:00 every morning, joining his siblings for coffee at Tim Horton’s or McDonalds. His final years were troubled by encroaching dementia, and only through the valiant efforts of wife Baukje and daughter Joyce could he remain in the home the family occupied on Craighead Dr for 45 years, until his final months. His faith sustained him through the unexpectedly long and rich life with which the Lord blessed him. He is survived by daughter-in-law Doris, sons David (Franziska) and Lloyd (Christine), and daughter Joyce (Larry), and grandchildren David, Sam, Ida, Edgar, Seth, Madeline, Sanne, Brittany, Megan, as well as siblings Harry, Johanna, Hiske, Luitzen, Siebe and Doede (Bill). Predeceased by his son John and grandson Philip, and his brother Sjoerd (George).
Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 from 7-9 p.m. at the Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home, 280 St. David St. South, Fergus. A Funeral Service for Albert will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church, 600 Belsyde Ave East, Fergus. All attendees must wear a mask and practice social distancing. It is strongly recommended to RSVP through the funeral home website. www.grahamgiddyfh.com
Donations may be made to Groves Memorial Hospital or the Anchor Association.