In Loving Memory of

Bauke Broersma

of Edmonton
Mar 28, 2022

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 peerless and 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 and 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 across three continents. He was a brave young boy who cared for his family and neighbours during the WWII German occupation of The Netherlands. He was a keen student who skipped grades and went onto college and continued to read and learn throughout his life. He was a young man in military service for The Royal Netherlands Air Force, Koninklijke Luchtmacht. He saw beyond the world as it was, he saw a world of his dreams and was determined to make it so. And so, he set his sights on emigrating to Canada, where the prospects seemed endless. But first….

Bob became a husband to his equally adventurous and courageous bride Dorothy. Together, mere weeks after their wedding, they emigrated from The Netherlands to Canada, for a new life of opportunity. Side by side they grew and prospered and welcomed their only child, Janita, to share their wide, wide world.

Bob adored music, particularly opera and classical music, and hosted two Dutch music programs on two Edmonton radio stations in the ‘60’s and 70’s. He was a fun-loving man who relished a good story heard or told. He sang and acted in musical theatre, a Dutch choir, and an Edmonton Barbershop Quartet. He learned to tap dance, was a wonderful ballroom dancer, and throughout his life enjoyed any sunny beach, swimming, and long walks.

Bob and Dorothy were loyal to their friends and generous hosts who opened their home and table to many, many neighbours, family, and friends. Bob particularly loved the Alberta Rockies where he and Dorothy often camped in their early years of exploring their new country. They hosted legions of visitors, work colleagues, family and friends in those beautiful Rockies feeling a particular sense of pride in the beauty of Canada’s natural and wide open spaces. He was a lover of gadgets and tools, an ingenious maker and mender of things. He held faith with natural remedies, herbs and healthful eating. He was a meticulous perfectionist, who always thought there was more time in an hour than there was.

Bob’s working life was as varied as his skills and interests, including journalism, advertising, sales, and 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. Reuniting other immigrants with their countries and families of origin, who they thought they may never see again, was the highlight of his career. He was at home on the tarmac of innumerable airports, the streets of countless European cities and towns, speaking 3 languages (not including sarcasm) with colleagues and guests 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 of his countries, fostering relationships, cultural understanding and trade.

During and after the heyday of Charter flights, Bob was the general manager for Edmonton’s Holland House. Here they hosted hundreds of weddings, receptions, parties, meetings and of course, Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) parties for children and adults alike. He loved organizing, hosting, leading the Polonaise, singing and dancing, seeming never to tire of the endless hours of work. These were, by far, the most fulfilling decades of his working life. Bob closed out his working years in a little electronics shop that restored and repaired vintage radios and record players.

Of all the things he mastered, rest and retirement did not come easily to Bob. But eventually, rest did come, and with it reflection. “I’ve had a wonderful life” he often said. He lived by two philosophies: “why” is the most important question and, “Nothing in life is important unless you can share it with someone. Do something for yourself by doing something good for someone else”. Living is honest philosophy; he would be grateful if you took those credos as his gift to you.

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). He so often gave roses to Dorothy and Janita, and flowers to anyone who needed to be thanked or made to feel special.

A celebration of Bob’s life is planned for a later date. Message of condolence and remembrance are welcome at Family.BD.Broersma@gmail.com