HARM WILLEM (BILL) SIEDERS

Bill Sieders, 85, passed away peacefully, with his family at his side, on Monday, Dec. 27, 2010 at the Emo Health Centre in Emo, Ont.
He was born Feb. 8, 1925, the youngest of seven children to Hendrick Sieders and Johanna Costers, in Hoogeveen, Netherlands.
After serving with the Dutch Marines during the Indonesian War, Bill found the Netherlands “too small and constricting.” Drawn to the wide-open expanses and plentiful farmlands of Canada, he immigrated to Manitoba in 1949.
A year later, his fiancée, Riek “Rita” Zwinderman, followed. On July 19, 1950, they were married.
By 1951, along with the Kaemingh family, they moved to Emo. In 1954, they settled on their own farm on the River Road where, over the next 32 years, they raised their eight children.
Bill’s faith in God through Christ was a priority for both he and his family throughout his life. He was known for his quick smile and his interest in the people around him.
He loved working the land, everything from fields to flowerbeds. Bill also instilled a love of nature in his children, and leaves a legacy of thousands of trees planted throughout the area.
He is predeceased by his parents and his siblings, Hilly, Tina, Alice, Hendrick, John, and Curt.
He is survived by his wife, Rita, and their children, Henry (Susan), Mary (Terry) Martinson, Joyce (Ray) Martinson, Rita (Nick) Youroukos, Grace (John) Hettinga, Ted (Jenny), Hilda Sieders (Don), and William (Diana).
He also is survived by 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010 at 1 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Emo.
A luncheon will follow.
The honourary pallbearers will be Bill’s grandchildren.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com