VIERSEN, ANDRIES
1930 - 2020
Andries was born in Friesland, in the little town of Anjum, close to the North Sea. He was the fifth child born to Janke and Ype Viersen, in a family of nine children (Maaike, Tiete, Oebele, Tine, Andries, Binne, Anneke, Boukje and Gerrit).
Andrie’s parents ran a mixed farm, and in the spring of 1937 the family had the opportunity to lease land in the newly claimed Wieringemeer Polder, so they moved to North Holland. Andries was nine years old when World War 11 broke out. He has many memories of this anxious time, one of them being the flooding of the Wieringemeer at the end of the war, when the dikes were destroyed by the Germans, and the farm was lost to the sea. A year later the family set to work to rebuild the farm, and Andries helped his father until he turned 21. By then the idea of immigration to Canada had captured his imagination, and he flew to Halifax, NB. Traveling across Canada via railroad, Andries made his way to Telkwa, BC, where he found work in the logging industry and joined with the Dutch Reformed Church community.
He married Fettje Veenstra, the little Friesian girl who had also recently immigrated, and she became the love of his life. Together they raised eleven children; Margaret, Joanne, Stanley, Monica, Teresa, Sharon, Yvonne, Christina, Andrew, Felicia and Lydia. In 1977 the family moved to Alberta and Andries built up a pig farm and found enjoyment in clearing land with his caterpillar. Over the years the children married. Joanne and Dick Barendregt, Stan and Irene VandeBurgt, Monica and Carl Oosterhoff, Teresa and Len Bergsma, Sharon and Jerold VanAssen, Yvonne and Jan Harink, Christina and Kevin VanderZyl, Andrew and Rianne Janssen, Felicia and John Wierenga, and Lydia and Hans Kruidhoff. Andries and Fettje have been blessed with 87 grandchildren and 110 great grandchildren. Andries greatest joy was his children, and his heartfelt wish was that they would love the LORD Jesus Christ and walk in his ways.
Andries developed a love for wood, and for making beautiful wooden articles, especially on his lathe. He crafted numerous gifts and items for artisan markets. Planting trees and tending to his vegetable garden was another hobby. In the last years of his life Andries spent most of his energy on taking care of his dear wife, after she suffered a stroke. On December 7, 2020, after being ill for a short time Andries was called to be Home with his Savior.
He was predeceased by his siblings; Maaike, Tiete, Oebele, Binne, Anneke and Boukje; his daughter Margaret, and his two grandsons; Andy and Jorge.
780 674-4644
