Obituary of Andrew Bruinsma

On January 24th , 2019 the Lord in his wisdom took to his Heavenly Home his child, my beloved brother Andrew Bruinsma. Andrew was born on July 10th, 1928 in Ureterp, Friesland, The Netherlands; son of the late Ben Bruinsma (1983), and Fanny Bylsma Bruinsma (1991).

After the Second World War, having been in the United States and Canada before his marriage,  our father Ben Bruinsma was anxious to emigrate back to Canada with his young family. On September 8th, 1947 the family set foot on the SS “Tabinta” and arrived in Canada on September 21st, 1947, settling in the Chatham area.

Shortly after arriving in Chatham the family started their construction company, “Ben Bruinsma and Sons Ltd.” of which Andrew became president in 1983 after our father died. Many projects were done in Chatham-Kent, and are still here today.

Andrew was a faithful member of the First Christian Reformed Church all these years, and loved to sing songs. Many will also remember him singing while working with him at different job sites. Andrew also had been a member of several choirs through the years, the last one being the “Christian Men’s Choir.”

In the mid 1970s Andrew played an important role in maintaining the YMCA on King Street; which was very important to him, as this is where he had learned to play his favourite sport – tennis.

Andrew is predeceased by his parents,  and brothers George (1998), and Jack (2014). Survived by his sister Marion Bruinsma, sister-in-law Grenda Bruinsma, and eight nieces and nephews.

Friends and family will be received at DENNING’S OF CHATHAM (519-352-2390), 4 Victoria Avenue, on Monday, January 28th, 2019 from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm. The Funeral Service will be held at First Christian Reformed Church, 25 Tweedsmuir Avenue East, Chatham on Tuesday morning at 11am. Interment to follow in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham. Donations in Andrew’s memory may be made to the Parkinson Foundation of Canada. Online condolences may be left at www.chathamfuneralhome.ca