Obituary of Willem van Malsen

The family of Willem "Bill / Wim" van Malsen of Saint John, NB are saddened to announce his death on Friday, January 29, 2010 at his home Rocmaura Nursing Home after a 6 year battle with Lewis Body Disease. Born January 8, 1922 in Amsterdam, Holland, he was the son of the late Johan and Wilhema (Kolk) van Malsen. In 1938 Dad enlisted with the Merchant Marines, on one of his trips to Canada in 1942 he met and married Mom, Meta Boyd who join him in Holland in 1951 where they blessed with three more children. They moved between Canada and Holland several times but made Canada their permanent home in October 1969, where dad worked most of his life in construction in the positions of carpenter and later foreman & superintendent for Marque & Foundation Company. After his retirement he kept busy helping his children renovate their homes and help build new ones, as well as attending the Aquatic center daily, and trips to the casino. Dad also enjoyed many years of volunteering with Meals on Wheels. Dad is survived by his children, Wilhelmina Ogilvie of St Catharine’s ON, Muriel Lindsay (Thomas) of Saint John, Michael van Malsen (Donna) of Rothesay and adopted daughter Paula van Malsen of Saint John, his twin brother Henk van Malsen, of Amsterdam, Holland, and the mother of his children Meta Boyd-van Malsen of Rothesay. Grandchildren, Tony Ogilvie (Sara) & Nathan Shute of St. Catharine’s ON, Tanja Payne (Jason), Tina Kenney (Jake Hickman) Geoffrey Kenney (Victoria) Amanda van Malsen (Robert Nelson) all of Saint John, Amy van Malsen ( Robert McLaughlin) of Hoyt, Johnny Perry of Sackville , Tammy Perry of St. John’s NL, Joanna Trombley (Patrick) and Anneka Daley all of Dartmouth and 18 great grandchildren, who loved playing the "Money Game" with their Opa. Besides his parents he was predeceased by two infant sons, William and Geoffrey and his sister Johanna Hendrika van Malsen-Berghuis. Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, (634-7424), with visiting on Sunday and Monday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 2 pm from St. Mary and St. Bartholomew’s Church, 646 Westmorland Road. Interment will take place at a later date. For those who wish, remembrances to Meals on Wheels, Lewis Bodies Society or a charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family.