Willem Zwiep

Bill was born in Enschede, Netherlands. He immigrated with his family to Winnipeg, Canada when he was 15 years old. He met his wife, Beatrix van Hoorn, at the Dutch Reformed Church in Winnipeg. He went to Orange City, Iowa to attend seminary college. Bill’s faith in Jesus was always very important to him. However, Iowa USA was very far from Beatrix and the boys in Canada. He returned to them and they moved to Kitimat, BC. Their time there was cut short due to the mountains closing in on Beatrix and Bill’s fight with a bear (it was a draw between the bear and the VW bug). They both returned to Manitoba and Bill decided to get his teacher’s permit. He later obtained his B. A. and B. Ed. They finally settled in Portage la Prairie where Bill taught Junior High at La Verendrye School for 31 years. He started with Phys. Ed. but finished teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies.

He was a Kinsman in Portage, enjoying giving back to his community as well as the fellowship. He served in many roles including President. He coached and reffed soccer for many years and, with his friends Colin Whitehurst and Louis Nelissen, founded Portage Youth Soccer.

When their sons, Nik and Rich, left home to start their adult lives, Bill and Bea moved to Winnipeg. Bill continued teaching at La Verendrye School, commuting to Portage until his retirement in 2001.

But Bill didn’t stop his community service when he left Portage. He became more involved with the Dutch Canadian Society in Winnipeg. He was very involved with the installation of the De Zaaier sculpture at the Assiniboine Park Leo Mol Garden and also with the tulip garden. He loved the Draaiorgel (Barrel Organ or street organ) that he remembered from his youth in Holland and helped raise money to refurbish one. He loved having it at public events.

Bill also loved sharing his culture with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He organized many Sinterklaas parties for the children of the Dutch Society and his own family.

Bill took his family on many road trips during summer vacations when the boys were younger. In 1981, he and Bea began enjoying summers at their camping trailer at Petersfield; fishing in his boat during the day and sitting by the campfire at night. Many people stopped by his cleaning table to ask him to clean their fish. Nobody could fillet fish as good as Mr. Zwiep.

Willem did reconnect with friends and family in Holland after he retired. He kept up with his favourite voetbal (soccer) club, FC Twente and enjoyed catching up with Dutch news and emailing his cousins and friends back in Enschede.

Willem is survived by his wife Beatrix, sons Nik and Rich (Jeanne); grandchildren Alex and Cole, Chelsea (Brendon, great-grandchildren Madison, Camille and Beau), Megan (Luke), and Wil (Holly); cousins Marianne (Bill), Ria, Wilma, and Bart (Tanya); brother-in-law John van Hoorn, sister-in-law Annemarie Ottens (Joop - Andrew, Theresa, Juanita); and his brother Gerrit’s (Sheila) children John, Sarah and Myra. Gerrit’s oldest daughter Phaedra (Bruce) connected with Bill several years ago and he treasured their relationship.

Bill has many family and friends in Canada and the Netherlands who will miss him very much.

A private memorial gathering will be held with immediate family and friends at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation and/or the Kidney Foundation