Jelle Boersma

Jelle was born in 1937 in the Nederlands, the youngest child of Jakob and Elsie Boersma. His mom was taken into eternity shortly after his birth, and he spent his early childhood in the care of his maternal grandmother. At the age of eight, Jelle rejoined his father, who by this time had remarried. Having made the decision to immigrate to Canada in the early 1950s, the Boersmas arrived as so many other post-war families did to the port of Halifax, finally settling in Belleville, Ontario. Jelle later moved to Kitchener, married Renate, and built a home on Moore Avenue, where they lived for almost 40 years.

He was a roofer by trade, and a tinkerer by choice. The original do-it-yourselfer, he enjoyed not only building things from scratch, but also rebuilding things in ways he felt improved the design. We watched in awe as he built, rebuilt and modified everything from tools, to sheds to cars and campers. He once took on the challenge of taking apart a boat so he could make it bigger. In his retirement years, he enjoyed sailing on Lake Huron, and traveling around Ontario and south to Florida, usually in his own creations. Spontaneous and inclined to live life on his own terms, Jelle was truly one of a kind.

Jelle leaves behind sons Jeremy and his wife Elena, and Jerry and his wife Johanna (Florida), and granddaughters Larissa and Arianna, and grandchildren David, Travis, Caitlin and Jenna. He will also be deeply missed by brothers and sisters Al (Joan) Boersma, Herman (Pat) Boersma, Elsie Postma, Tina Jacques, Margrit (Jim) Frederickson, John (Angela) Pollak, his friend Carrie Fillier (with whom he enjoyed Karaoke tremendously), and his nieces and nephews. Thank you also to his extended family in the Kitchener Central congregation of the New Apostolic Church, who were an abiding, patient presence for Jelle over many decades. He took great comfort in your friendship and guidance. He was predeceased by his parents, Jakob (1997) and Anna (2005), and wife Renate (2010).

Visitation will be held at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 from 5:00-8:00pm. Funeral services will be at the New Apostolic church, 160 Margaret Avenue in Kitchener, on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 2:00pm. Guests are welcome to stay for the reception following the service. Donations to the NAC Foreign Extension fund or St. Mary’s Hospital Cardiac Centre would be gratefully accepted and can be arranged through the funeral home.

www.ratzbechtelfuneralhome.com