ADEMA. Dirk, passed away Dec. 12, 2007, at the age of 93 years in the Bulkley Valley District Hospital.
Dirk was born January 26, 1914, in Westergeest, Netherlands. When Dad was 12 he had to quit school and take a full-time job with a farmer. Dad always wanted to farm, but he wanted his own farm... not just working for someone!
Dad and Mom married June 18, 1942. In 1949, they immigrated to Canada and ended up in the wild bush of Houston, B.C. That first winter Dad had a job skidding logs with horses. That first winter was very cold with temperatures dropping below -45. At this time they had three young children and living conditions were very primitive. In 1951 they moved to Smithers, where they lived until 1956. With three more children in tow, they moved to the farm in Evelyn.
Dad’s faith and determination kept him going as he worked at the sawmill in Smithers and worked all his spare time building up the dairy farm. In 1966 Dad quit the ill and began full-time dairy farming. Life was never easy, as Dad often did things the hard way and money was very scarce.
In 1979, Dad and Mom moved to Smithes to begin 28 years of retirement. Dad always wanted to travel with the camper van and it would take him a long time to talk Mom into another trip, but away they would go again. You could spot the old, orange camper a mile away!
In January 1994 they moved into the Christian Senior Care complex and were content to live there for Dad’s remaining yeas. Dad drove until he was about 92 and most of the people in Smithers would recognize his car, as that was his main hobby, after drinking coffee with his friends. No one has counted the cups of coffee Dad drank in his life, but they would number many thousands.
The last few years, especially the last couple of months, were difficult as Dad became weaker.
We are thankful to God for the hope of Heaven and we trust that all things will be made new!
A funeral service for Dirk Adema was held Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. in the Bethel Reformed Church and was officiated by Pastor Lou Slagter. Interment was in the Smithers Cemetery.
Arrangements were entrusted to the R.A. Schrader Funeral Home, Smithers, B.C.
“Service With Dignityâ€