Piet van der Meulen
January 14, 1918 — December 4, 2004
Piet van der Meulen, long time Round Lake resident, died at the Bulkley Valley District Hospital of congestive heart failure on December 4. A private burial at the Telkwa cemetery and a celebration of his life at Mountain View Assembly was held on December 8th.
Piet grew up in the agricultural district of Westermeer, Friesland, in the Netherlands. Piet and Janna were married in 1939 in Joure, Friesland It was always Piet’s dream to be a dairy farmer on his own land and as the prospect of this was bleak after the war, the family immigrated to Canada in 1955. His dream came true with the purchase of land at Round Lake which eventually grew to become a dairy farm that he worked with his wife and family. Beppe’s Coffee House (around the kitchen table) warmly welcomed friends, acquaintances, and family from Holland over the years. Piet was a renowned story teller. However, one had to watch for the tell tale signs of twinkling eyes and a twitching at the corner of his mouth when the truth was about to become stretched just a little bit! . This past spring Piet and Janna celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and moved to their new home at Silverking Court in Smithers. Piet counted himself to be a blessed man having his children and grandchildren grow up so close to him and he will be deeply missed by us all. Piet is survived by his loving wife Janna, his sons Gary (Dianne) Cor (Judy) grandchildren - Derwin (Walewska) Yvette (Brent) Devon (Monica) Monique, Jesse, Aaron, Cory and 10 great grandchildren. Also surviving Piet in Holland are his sisters , Hiltje Nieuwenhuis and Johanna as well as extended family who will miss his very entertaining stories.
He has showed you, O man, what is good
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8