Jacob Marten Vander Helm
June 21, 1925 – February 24, 2018

Jacob (Jack) passed away on Saturday February 24, 2018 at the age of 92. He is survived by his son Max (Lale); three daughters Minnie (Peter), Coby and Ria; twelve grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Jacob also leaves to mourn his passing, his sister Riekie (Henk) ; the Dijkstra, Holwerda and Brookman families; many cherished relatives in the Netherlands and Canada; the Forbes family; his companion and special friend Mieke Smink and her family; and his extended family all over the world. He is predeceased by his wife of 56 years Jantje; daughters Matty and Amy; daughter-in-law Helga; son-in-law George; his brother Andre; and many beloved family and friends who he held dear to his heart.

His family called him Jack and in Dutch Jaap, however, he was best known by all his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren as Papa. Jacob was born in Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands, went through the Second World War as a young teenager, and later the Dutch Indonesian war as a young husband and father. Jacob married Jantje Dijkstra in 1945 and in the span of 18 years, they had six children together.

Upon returning from Indonesia and apprenticing in Woodworking in Holland, Jacob decided the best way to give his children every opportunity at success was to immigrate to Canada, which they did in 1953. He worked for a short time for CPRail unloading box cars before working for A. B. Cushing Mills. Jacob then worked for the T. Eaton Company right up to the time he retired. He was an amazing craftsman and could fix or improvise anything to make it not only beautiful, but often left you wondering how he got something to fit together so perfectly. Jacob was always willing to instruct others in the correct process to make the project perfect. Together with his wife Jantje, they won an award for the most beautiful yard in the city of Kelowna, where they had retired. He embraced gardening and could graft fruit trees and grow just about anything you could imagine.

Jacob is greatly missed by everyone who knew him. His sense of humor was going strong right until the end.

A Celebration of Jacobs Life will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 11:00 am in the Ballroom at The Sierras of Tuscany (223 Tuscany Springs Blvd. NW).

The family would like to thank the staff and physicians at Age Care Glenmore and Choice Memorial, as well as the many others that helped him through this time.

To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Jacob please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.