Marinus Voorberg

Marinus Arie Voorberg came unexpectedly into the world on November 8th, 1927 in s'Gravenzande, Zuid Holland in the Netherlands. His mother, Anna and his father, Marinus were expecting their second child. This second son was born and the doctor prepared to leave. However, the midwife did not think that Anna was done! And there came Marinus, small but a fighter. He spent the first few months of his life in the hospital but he came home to join the rest of the family which included his twin, Jochem, older brother, Lambertus, and later, younger brother, Pieter, and only sister, Elisabeth. Rien was a quick worker and a great talker. At the age of 18 he joined the Dutch army and embarked on a three year stint in Indonesia as a medic. He returned to the Netherlands but decided to join his brothers in Canada in 1951 in the Springdale, Ontario area.

In 1954, Rien was sent by his boss to help pick up the Rauwerda family which numbered eleven members. There he spied the oldest daughter, Emmy, aged 24 and offered to take her in his truck. She replied only if her brother, Keimpe, came too! Within 11 months, they were married and settled into married life in Newmarket, Ontario. They had four children, Shirley, Robert, Elizabeth (Lisa), and Caroline.

Dad worked in a lumber store and also invested in some real estate. He moved the family around Newmarket to various homes which he improved and sold. He built two new houses, the last on Hamilton Drive where they lived for 40 years. He also built a cottage on Balsam Lake which afforded them much pleasure. Each weekend found them packing their bags with food and clothing to bring to the cottage. Dad's pride and joy was his motor boat. He loved taking visitors for a boat ride down the Trent Canal system.

Later years found Dad and Mom with four married children and ten grandchildren. They spent their winters in Florida enjoying the warmth and sunshine and fellowship with other Snow Birds. When they were home in Ontario they made visits to see the kids and grandkids where Dad would fix things and Mom would mend things!

Dad and Mom spent 59 years of their married life in Newmarket. They had been original founding members of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church. In May 2014, they moved to Holland Christian Homes, first into an apartment and then into Faith Manor.

From his birth and throughout his life and his immigrant journey Dad showed a fighting spirit. He thrived on hard work and pushed himself and each of his children to do the same. He was a devoted husband to his wife and a faithful, believing man. He loved to read and keep abreast of world topics by reading the Toronto Star and Time magazine. Though profoundly deaf in his later years, he always had a strong grip and a smile and knew us all. He enjoyed the visits of the only great grandchild, Kate.




After suffering a stroke on March 7th, Dad died on Saturday, March 18th. Though we mourn his earthly passing, we rejoice that he is in his heavenly home with his Saviour.