Leonardus De Rooy

Leonardus De Rooy
Leo was born in Oud Gastel, Brabant on January 26, 1925, the youngest of seven siblings. His memories of the war were often humorous. One story told of his horse being confiscated by a Nazi officer. He and his father then had to drag their milk cart, along with a worthless German receipt, all the way home!
After the war he met Connie. They were heartbroken to be separated during the four years he served in Indonesia. They wrote each other daily and married when he returned. They were soon blessed with two children, Adrian and Elizabeth.
In 1956 they made the tough decision to immigrate to Canada where they settled in Kirkland Lake. They eventually moved to Toronto where he carved out a career with the TTC, ultimately becoming an electrical inspector on the subway system.
He loved the great outdoors, taking his young family camping in the summer. When they were more financially comfortable, Leo and Connie travelled the world including Europe, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, the U.S. and Israel.
Leo had a bright creative spirit, building little toys and furniture when he could not afford them. He learned how to fix things, working diligently until he had problems solved. He loved dogs, and deeply mourned their loss.
He was overjoyed with his only grandchild, Lenore, who was the apple of his eye. Photographs of his great grandchildren, Brayden, Colten, and Hadley gave him great joy and comfort in his last years. His passing should be seen as a blessing, after years of being lost in the fog of dementia.
Together, Leo and Connie built a comfortable life, travelled the world, and raised two children, one a great artist, the other a psychologist. They achieved what they dreamed of when they got on the Groote Beer in Rotterdam in 1956… the Canadian dream!