Gerry "Gerrit" Vermey

Gerry (Gerrit) Vermey, 93, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 11, 2026, in Kamloops.

Gerry was born, the youngest and only boy of four, in Rotterdam on June 13, 1932. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1953 and settled in Montreal.

Gerry, wanting to marry a Dutch girl, was encouraged by his friend John to start corresponding with Erica, whom John knew from his hometown in Holland. After a year of many, many letters, he proposed to her. Erica accepted and then traveled alone to Canada. They were married on September 28, 1957.

His first job as a car jockey led him to a successful career in the automotive industry as a mechanic and shop foreman.

The family moved to Kamloops in 1979, where Gerry went to work for various dealerships, retiring from the industry as a service manager. Gerry was well respected and trusted and thus gained many loyal customers, many of whom became lifelong friends.

In his semi-retirement, Gerry went on to build a garage where he enjoyed returning to diagnosing and repairing automobiles well into his mid-70s. He was a dedicated member of the Christian Reformed Church and served in many roles, one of which was assisting in the construction of the church on Summit Drive. He loved living in BC and took advantage of the many outdoor opportunities, particularly camping and fishing.

Always creative and looking for a challenge, he built two campers which took him and Erica on adventures throughout the USA, Mexico, and Canada. In later years, he built a boat with his son Len. He, along with Erica, became a beekeeper, and together they managed many hives from their backyard and beyond! He volunteered with the Kamloops Beekeepers Club and enjoyed learning the many intricacies of raising bees.

Gerry, looking for more opportunities to get involved with the community, became a ham radio operator, where his curiosity and desire to learn new things were fulfilled. He volunteered with the local club and the provincial emergency program. He could always be found trying to improve or build a better antenna.

In later years, Gerry joined an aqua-size class at the Kamloops Y. He could be found there three times a week, where he enjoyed many conversations with the instructors and fellow participants.

Gerry will be dearly missed by his wife, Erica; his children Leonard (Victoria), Brian (Kathleen), Margaret (Doug), and Michael (Marilyn). Also missing him will be his grandchildren Darcy, Sonja, Meghan (Dan), Theresa (Garret), Payton, Nicole (Conlan), Reece, and Heather, as well as five great-grandchildren.

Gerry’s family wish to extend their gratitude to the care team at Gemstone, where Gerry felt welcomed and eagerly participated in daily life and various social activities.