Ron (Romke) Kloosterman

Mr. Ron (Romke) Kloosterman, formerly of Fort Frances, passed away peacefully in the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at the age of 93 years.

Ron was born on June 17, 1928 in St. Nicolaasga, Friesland, the Netherlands. He was part of a large family with 12 brothers and sisters. He came to Canada in the 1950s and worked many different jobs across the country in order to save enough money to purchase his own farm.

He returned to the Netherlands to marry Dora van der Lely on March 8, 1956. The newlyweds immigrated to Canada the same year. Ron did get his own farm in Stratton, Ontario and worked as a dairy farmer for many years.

The family moved to Fort Frances in the 1980s, where he worked with Dora as a caretaker for Shevlin Towers, among other jobs. He developed many life-long friendships there and regularly walked to McDonalds to have coffee with his buddies. Ron and Dora spent the last few years in Thunder Bay, most recently at Chartwell Hilldale, where they were well looked after.
Ron will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Everyone loved the big smile he had for them, no matter how he was feeling.

Ron is survived by his daughter Rita Kloosterman (Michael MacKinnon) of Ottawa; his daughter Catherine Morrisseau of Fort Frances; his granddaughter Julia Carlson (Kerri Anderson) and great granddaughters Danica and Maliyah of Thunder Bay; as well as one sister (Cecile Haas) and numerous nieces and nephews in the Netherlands. Ron was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years Dora; his parents Rimmer and Grieitje; and 11 brothers and sisters.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Garon, as well as all the nurses and UCAs at the TBRHSC for their kind and compassionate care of Ron in his final days.

Should friends so desire, donations can be made in the memory of Ron to the Canadian Cancer Society. Arrangements have been entrusted to EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma, Thunder Bay.