We are saddened to announce the passing of Nicolaas (Klaas) Heronimus Postma on June 03, 2014. He left us peacefully in his home surrounded by his family. He fought a brief but courageous battle with cancer. This battle, however, was not to be won and he accepted his path with great dignity.
Nick was born in Doniaga, Frysland, The Netherlands on November 24, 1941, number 9 of 12 children born to Frans and Grietje Postma. He emigrated to Canada when he was 23 and although he maintained strong ties to his family and native land, Canada became his true home. He grew up on a dairy farm at a time when you used horses to plough the field and milked your cows by hand - working hard was second nature to him. He was a talented and meticulous builder of homes and farms, but also, at heart, a farmer and a gardener. Easy testament to this is the stunning home he built and lived in with his wife Nancy, the artfully landscaped property, his ridiculously abundant garden and his beloved Friesian horses. He was an enthusiastic and animated teller of tales, and loved a good practical joke. In his younger years he was an accomplished athlete, excelling in running and soccer. When he moved up to the Shuswap he earned the nickname “Hot-foot Postma” by running circles around his opponents and prolific goal scoring. He remained active, fit and busy right up until the onset of his cancer. He brought his family to Gardom Lake in 1976. Here, he helped create the same strong community ties that defined his youth. He was always willing to help any in need, a generosity of spirit that was paid back tenfold by his friends and neighbours during his long months of treatment in Vancouver. His life was too big and colourful to summarize in these few sentences. However his legacy of hard work, easy play and generosity to family and friends will be long remembered by all the many lives he touched.
He was beloved by all of his siblings. He is pre-deceased by his brothers Theo and Jappy, and oldest sister Mieke. He is survived by sisters Akke, Jantsje, Geertje, Sippy (Cecile) and Afke, and brothers Huite (Harry), Epke and Ron.
He will be deeply missed by his wife Nancy, stepdaughters Ashley and Tiffany, and his children Ross, Lora and Kristy as well as his 7 grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday June 21st at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Salmon Arm with Father George LaGrange OMI Celebrant. A reception will be held at noon at their beautiful home that he built at #800 Gardom Lake Road. All who knew and loved Nick are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Nick’s name may be made to the BC Cancer Agency or Salvation Army.
Nei in slimme sykje is ferstoarn us dappere, optimistyske en altyd fleurige Klass (Nick).
Arrangements entrusted to Fischer’s Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd., Salmon Arm, (250) 833-1129. Email condolences and share memories through Nick’s obituary at www.fischersfuneralservices.com.