Thys Haambuckers was born June 23, 1961 in Eys, Limburg, Netherlands and grew up on his parent’s dairy farm. As a youth he loved working with his father’s racehorses and was an active member of the local pony club competing in eventing and dressage. He attended agricultural college and came to Canada to do a three month practicum at Vink Farms in Greendale. Thys fell in love with Canada and decided to immigrate to Canada but first had to go back to Holland and complete his degree, along with his cheese making certificate and then applied for a work visa to Canada.
Thys immigrated to Canada when he was 19 in 1981 and worked on a couple dairy farms in the Fraser Valley.
Thys met his wife Wilma in 1983 and they were married November 16, 1985. Their first son Michael was born in 1987, Travis in 1991 and Tyler in 1993.
The Haambuckers moved to Salmon Arm in 1993, where Thys worked on Mcleod Farms until 1999 when Thys and Wilma began their own dairy farm, Glorybound Holsteins, in Salmon Arm, eventually purchasing their current dairy farm on Deep Creek Road in 2004.
Thys worked at Sure Crop Feeds for 13 years, starting in the warehouse and then working his way up to Feed Sales.
Thys was heavily involved in his community. He was a 4-H Leader of the Shuswap Dairy 4-H Club for 15 years, and served as president of the Salmon Arm 4-H Council for 5 years. He was active in the North Okanagan Holstein Club having served as President and other executive positions. Thys was involved for numerous years in the Interior Provincial Exhibition as the Dairy Director and sat on various committees. In 2016, Thys was elected as Vice President of the IPE Board of Directors.
Thys is survived by his wife Wilma, sons Michael (Gina), Travis, and Tyler (Corissa), his father Leonard Haambuckers, sister Thea Haambuckers, and brother Laurens (Magda) Haambuckers.
Condolence may be sent to Thy’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com
Arrangements are in the care of Bowers Funeral Home and Crematorium, Salmon Arm.