Andy Stoelwinder was born January 28, 1939 in the Netherlands in Leewarden Friesland (Holland).
At the age of 13, Andy immigrated to Canada in 1952 with parents, brothers, and sisters. One brother and one sister remain in Holland.
Andy’s first year in Canada was spent working in the sugar beet farm in Magrath, Alberta. From there the family moved to Cresent Spur and later bought a farm in Smithers where Andy worked as a cook in a small bush camp.
He then worked as a cook for a mining company on Hudson Bay Mountain. He soon learned to grade lumber in a sawmill in Smithers and remained working in the lumber industry. He worked in sawmills in various towns around B.C.
Andy met his wife Lois while working in a sawmill town near McBride where they married in 1964. Andy, his wife, daughter, and two sons moved to Williams Lake in 1975 where Andy worked for Jacobson Brothers, which is now known as Riverside Forest Products.
He loved animals and soon bought property at 150 Mile House and remained there ever since.
Andy also loved to travel and became an avid fisherman. He won many fishing derbies at lakes around the local area. Andy enjoyed life to the fullest until he became sick and had to retire at age 49. He faced many obstacles during his lengthy illness, which finally claimed him in St. Paul’s hospital in Vancouver on May 5, 2002.
Andy will be sadly missed by his loving wife Lois, daughter Karen (Mark) Westby, sons Ed and Dan; sisters Elske Walraven, Antiena (Art) Yelich; brothers Japp, John (Wilma), Roelof (Jackie), Walter (Ursla), Mark (Linda), three grandchildren and nieces and nephews and the many friends he made along the way.