Henry Gelderman

Henry was born in Ommen, Netherlands, the first child of Willem and Geertje Gelderman. In 1948, when Henry was 6, his family immigrated to Canada, settling in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. The family moved around a bit, in 1951 to Transcona MB, in 1953 to Carmen MB, and in 1955 to Dryden ON. In 1962, Henry and two of his sisters moved to Rosedale, BC and lived with Henk and Gertie Buit.

It was at this time that the nickname ‘Charlie’ was given to him, and it stuck! All of the nieces and nephews only knew him as Uncle Charlie. Dad worked at Comet garage in Chilliwack, where he started pulling wrenches and fixing vehicles. He became well known for troubleshooting problems other mechanics couldn’t figure out. He got his hands greasy every day, and they stayed that way for the rest of his life. Hilda caught the eye of the new guy in town, and she was impressed with his black convertible.

They married in 1964 and in 1965 settled into their home on Leary Crescent in Chilliwack, at which time Gerald was born. Ken quickly followed in 1966, and Kathy in 1969. Dad bought Greendale Motors in 1970 and for a couple of years half of the building served as the family home. When Karen came along in 1972, there just wasn’t enough room for 4 kids in that tiny garage house.

The house behind the garage was built to better fit this growing family. Gord completed the family in 1976. The boys were encouraged to use anything with a motor and dirt bikes quickly turned into tractor pulling as Dad found a great way to spend time with the older boys. The Bandit and Lil’ Bandit were a big part of our lives for many years.

Dad loved the sound of horsepower. Just a couple weeks ago, Dad set up a TV in his shop so he could watch old tractor pulling videos while he worked on fixing things for family, friends and neighbors. When the kids were younger every summer was spent at Osoyoos or Cultus Lake with extended family and friends, pulling everyone behind the jet boat.

There were many crazy stunts done behind that boat! Once the kids were grown, Mom and Dad enjoyed motorhome vacations down south with friends and siblings. You always knew it was a great vacation for Dad when the first thing he talked about when calling home was how so-and-so’s rig broke down, but they were able to fix it and keep going! Dad got his private pilot’s license in 1989 and took many people up for a scenic flight around the Fraser Valley, with of course a stop for Chilliwack’s famous airport café: ‘I Fly for Pie’.

As a Grandpa he loved to spend time with his grandkids teaching them stuff and giving rides on a quad or mower. Selling Greendale Motors to Ken in 1996 meant it was time to build a new house, but right across the street, of course, so that Dad could still walk to work. He was now in the office managing the shop, answering the phone, ordering parts, dealing with customers and still troubleshooting vehicle problems.

Dad was a volunteer fireman / fire chief in the Sardis and Greendale fire halls for 20 years before retiring from the department in 2005. He was also involved in his church, at times serving as a deacon, and he also spent time as treasurer for John Calvin School. Together with Mom they taught their children to serve the Lord.

After 50 years of working at Greendale Motors, Dad “retired” at the age of 78. Yet he stayed very busy, and for the last two years could be seen riding his electric bike around Greendale, talking to neighbors, fixing lawn mowers, neighbor-kids’ go-karts and anything he could get his hands on. He could fix almost anything mechanical and loved a challenge.

Even in his last few days of life he was busy building new tools and jigs to help him with that next project he had planned. Dad will be greatly missed by mom, his five children and five in-law children, twenty grandchildren and five in-law grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. He will also be missed by his brothers and sisters and in-laws, nephews and nieces, friends, and the community of Greendale.