Jan. 26, 1941 – Jan. 17, 2022
On January 17, 2022, God called Arie Borger home to live with his Lord and Saviour.
Arie was born on January 26, 1941, in Vrouwenparochie, the Netherlands, to parents Eeltje and Frouke Borger. He spent his first eight years there. In February 1949, the family immigrated to Stoney Mountain, Man., Canada. They left Manitoba in the fall of 1952 and settled on their own farm in Devlin, Ontario.
When Arie was 18, he joined the CNR work force from which he retired in 1994 with 35 years of experience operating many machines and being foreman.
Arie had a great interest in animals and in 1982 moved his family to the farm in Buriss to raise beef cattle.
Arie served in various capacities within Emo Christian Reformed Church where he worshipped faithfully until his move to Thunder Bay in 2006.
He moved to his retirement home on the banks of the Rainy River in Emo. He freely volunteered his time and especially enjoyed being involved in the Emo Walleye Tournament and driving for Meals on Wheels. Arie loved to travel with his wife, and they toured Europe on many trips while visiting relatives in the Netherlands. In the winter months they enjoyed the sunny warm weather and all the activities with their Texas gang. This all ended abruptly when Arie fell and suffered a severe spinal cord injury on August 24, 2006.
Arie will be remembered by his wife, Audrey, as a loving and supportive spouse; by his three daughters as a devoted and supportive father; by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as a loving and inspiring grandpa.
Arie was predeceased by his parents, parents-in-law; brothers Harold and Henry; sister-in-law Marie; and brother-in-law Piet.
He leaves to mourn his passing his beloved wife, Audrey, whom he married on July 3, 1964; his three daughters, Lori-Ann and children Brianna (Sean and Evelynn), Jameson (Ashley, Emry and Rhya), Kassidy (Anniss, Royer), Spencer, Sulivan and Pasquel; Michelle (Jason, Justin, Caden and Aliyah); Kristie (Mike, Kyra, Ensign, Neelix, Emily and Samantha). He is also survived by his brothers Peter and Nick and his sister Boukje and their families, as well as the families of Harold and Henry.
A memorial service celebrating Arie’s life will be held on Thursday, June 2, at 1:30 p.m. at First Christian Reformed Church in Thunder Bay. An internment service will be held on Friday, June 3, at 1:30 p.m. at the Emo cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Emo Christian Reformed Church.
Please accept this as your invitation to join us in saying goodbye to our dearest Arie.
