Aalt Leusink

On Monday, August 31 Aalt Leusink joined his Lord and Saviour passing away peacefully on his birthday at the Regina General Hospital with his family by his side. We were able say goodbye to the husband, father, Opa, uncle and friend to those who knew him over his 85 years on this earth. A man of strong, quiet faith we took comfort in his sometimes unspoken word yet very comfortable presence. He was always there for us along life's path, many times asking questions about our decisions or experiences in order to learn what we were up to while also helping us learn many of life's lessons. His quiet wisdom and unassuming nature made him many friends over the years. Born in Ruigoord, Netherlands, Aalt grew up in a family of 10 children and was raised adjacent to a small farm in Halfweg where they rented some land and grew vegetable crops and small livestock. Their family endured many hardships after his mother passed away at an early age and his older siblings were given responsibilities of helping to parent as well as working together keep their lives moving forward. They endured through the hardships of WW2 and the local Nazi occupation of those times and continued to flourish despite the challenges life threw at them. Aalt came to Canada in 1954 with his best friend and brother in law Adrian Meekel, with nothing but a suitcase and a few dollars in their pockets to make their way in this land with more varied opportunities for a hard worker. He began working as a farm hand along with his brother in law, near Edenwold, SK and developed many friendships there. It was in Canada that he met his future bride, Joppa through the church gatherings of fellow Dutch immigrants when she was in Canada from Holland to visit her sister. They began their life together here and raised 3 children. Family camping trips, visiting the farm and families of his sister in law and brother in law, and helping out anyone who needed a hand were characteristics of who Aalt was. During his career in Canada, Aalt worked as a farm labourer, a landscaper, then at Inland Cement where after years of night classes and studying while also working shift work - he achieved the position of process controller and operated the cement plant. His later years at Inland Cement saw him managing the stores dept and it wasn't unusual for a coffee and a visit to occur whenever a colleague dropped by to pick up supplies. Aalt developed many friendships with his colleagues over the years and he always was grateful for this. After 32 years at Inland Cement he retired in 1992, where he then devoted his time to gardening, spending time at the cottage and tinkering in his garage. Many times you could find Aalt sitting outside on the patio enjoying a break and puffing away on his pipe while feeding the birds and squirrels. Aalt loved his dogs, particularly Sasha his Pomeranian and Sarah his Sheltie. He bonded so well with animals who seemed to sense his safe, quiet nature and always remained close by his side. Many visits and family gatherings occurred at their home over the years and decades passed as his family grew and he was able to enjoy his grandchildren. Eventually it became time to say goodbye to their large yard and garden and they moved to College Park Retirement Residence where he spent his last years. While he didn't express himself so much in words, Aalt was the epitome of the expression 'actions speak louder than words' as you could clearly see his priorities through his work and his activities. Despite battling depression for decades, he always prioritized his wife and his family, planning for contingencies even up until his last years. His last couple years were very challenging for him but his tenacity and constant hope for feeling better kept him moving along at a pace he could live with. He was a great husband and father and grandfather and for this we are grateful. We are also very thankful to Aalt's older siblings in Holland who were tasked with the responsibility of helping raise the younger children when their mother died during childbirth. This care they provided helped form the man, the husband, the father, and the grandfather that he became and for this we are grateful. Life is a woven fabric and the loved ones in our lives always leave a remaining legacy that provides warmth to those left behind. Predeceased by family members in Holland are Aalt's sister Jannetje, brothers Jan, Willem, Egbert, and Lamberdus (Loek), and sister in law Elizabeth (Bep) in Holland, and also brother in law Adrian Meekel here in Canada. Aalt also lost a great grandchild Levi recently, who passed on to be with the Lord just prior to his birth. Aalt leaves to mourn his wife of 55 years Joppa, his daughter Betty Siebert (Corvin), grandkids Riley (Lyndsey) and great-granddaughter Zoey, Kelsey (Shaun), and Danielle, daughter Ramona Buchko (Jeff), grandkids Kaitlyn and Bailey, and son Adrian Leusink (Jody), grandkids Kyle (Kelsey), Jared, and Hillary Howe (Kyle). He also leaves behind brother Hendrik/Henk (Betty), sister Elizabeth (Bep) Meekel here in Canada, sisters Jennegien (Jenny) and Christina (Stien) in Holland, and sister in law Joyce Lievaart (Hank) here in Canada. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews both here and abroad, all of whom were always present in his heart and his conversations. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation in Aalt's memory be made to either the Canadian Mental Health Association or the Regina Humane Society.

Arrangements under the direction of Victoria Avenue Funeral Home and Cremation, Regina, SK.