WESTRA, Gerhard (Gerry) - Passed away at Lakeview Manor, Beaverton on Tuesday November 9, 2021 at 96 years of age.
He is survived by his daughter Karen Lee of Sunderland, his grandchildren Kevin, Jeffrey, Rebecca and Jonathan, his sister Baukje Pearson, his sisters-in-law Joyce and Helene, and many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his wife Kathleen Irene (Jones) of 48 years, his son Ron, his son-in-law James L.C. Lee, his sister Therese, and his six brothers Hendrik, Johannes, Eduard, Wobbe, Karel and Bauke.
Gerry was born in Oudwoude, the Netherlands to Jan and Louise Westra. During WWII he worked as a dairy hand in Rhineland, Germany, not far from his maternal grandmother.
He witnessed the Allied Forces' planes flying overhead en route to the 'Thousand Bomber Raid' on Cologne.
In Sept. 1944 he was conscripted -along with neighbouring German farmers- to dig trenches at Afferden, south of Arnhem.
He was gravely wounded on Sept. 25, 1944 by shrapnel from a fallen anti-aircraft shell.
He recovered in hospital, lastly in Wernigerode, until April 9, 1945, returning home on foot roughly a week later. He emigrated to Canada in 1952, working as a dairy hand in the Niagara Falls area.
He moved on to Toronto to work at Walmer Dairy and then Loblaws' Meat Packing dept., near the CNE grounds. Following his marriage to Kathleen in 1958, they moved to Oshawa, where Gerry worked for General Motors.
Gerry worked at GM for 31 years, retiring from the Fabrication Dept. (Plastics) as a 'set-up man' in 1987.
They moved to Campbellford, spending their winters in Florida. In 2003 they moved to Oakwood.
His beloved wife Kathleen passed in 2007, predeceasing Gerry by 14 years. He spent the final 3 years of his life under the excellent care of the Lakeview Manor staff, whom the family wish to thank.
A private memorial is planned.
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