It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Richard Rudolf Poelman, 79, of Vernon BC on Sunday December 3, 2023. Richard was born September 21, 1944, in Bogor, Indonesia - the ninth of ten children. In 1962, Richard met Gerry, and in 1965 both their families immigrated to The Netherlands, where they married and started their family with the birth of their four children - Daniel, Constance, Bianca, and Ingrid. In February 1979, Richard moved his family to Canada and settled in Cranbrook, BC. Richard worked as a machinist and enriched his spare time with new adventures with his family, judo, gardening, and the St Mary's Church. He took over the Cranbrook Judo Club and later opened three additional clubs in the East Kootenay's. He continued to instruct until 2020 after he passed along the clubs to former students. Richard dedicated years to the church, eventually being anointed as a Knight of Columbus in 1992 and elected as the Grand Knight years later. Gerry bravely fought cancer and passed in February 2012, and Richard married Silvena Kumentas in May 2015 in Indonesia. He will be greatly missed by all friends and family. He is survived by his wife Silvena Enid "Vena" Kumentas, and his four children, Dan (Shannon), Constance, Bianca (Ben), and Ingrid. As well as his nine grandchildren - Cody, Yolanda (Juan), Sarah (Jordan), Gabriela (Akeem), Kayleigh, Paige, Jesse (Paige), Shyanne, and Samuel. Richard is predeceased by his first wife Geertruida Helena "Gerry" Poelman, both parents, seven siblings, and other family members.
A funeral mass for Richard will be held Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at St. James Catholic Church, 2607 27th St, Vernon, British Columbia V1T4W1.
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