On Wednesday March 23, 2022, Tymen Donkersgoed, at the age of 91, went to meet his
Lord and Savior after a brief hospital stay.
Tymen is survived by his loving wife Mary, of 66 years, and their five children: Joanne
(Brad) Miller Carson and children Jenny (deceased), Kerri (Mahdi), Matt, and Danny
(Samantha), Karen and her daughter Janel (Dan), Tim (Evelyn) and girls Megan (Cade) and
Chelsea, Larry (Barb) and children Karissa (Joel), Jeffery, and Samantha, Connie (Loren) Visscher
and children Kelsey (Matthew), Aliya, Alex (Breanna), Cameron (Tyneille), Kaylee, Jaden, Eva,
and Donnie. He is also blessed with twelve great-grandchildren. Tymen is also survived by his
brother Ken (Dinie), and sisters Anna Puurveen and Hennie Veluw.
Tymen was born in Putten, Netherlands, and immigrated to Canada in 1948, where his
family had a dairy farm in Picture Butte. He and Mary were married in 1955 and moved to
Coaldale in 1959, where Tymen farmed with his brother Bert (Dinie), and built up a dairy and
poultry farm. Tymen and Mary started their family there, and in the early 1970’s moved to their
own dairy and poultry operation outside of Coaldale. Here they spent many happy years
working hard on the farm, yet they often found time to get away together on warm winter
get-aways, usually to Hawaii. When Tymen semi-retired in the late 1980’s, they moved to
Land-O-Lakes Golf Course where they both spent many days golfing together.
Tymen loved to be around people, so he was very active in the business end of farming
and the local community. He was very involved with Lilydale, and active in the Alberta Chicken
Marketing Board. Tymen was instrumental in starting both Land-O-Lakes Golf Course and
Coaldale Lumber, both of which he was very proud of. He enjoyed being on the Board of
Directors of the Co-operators. He was also involved in many other groups and organizations in
support of his community. In 2006 Tymen was honored by the Province of Alberta for his lifelong
work with various co-operatives in Alberta.
Tymen loved to golf, curl, and meet friends for coffee. Tymen, along with his wife Mary,
enjoyed traveling south for the winter with their siblings. He also enjoyed spending time with his
children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a socializer who wanted to know your
story. Tymen touched the lives of many people and will be sadly missed by all.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 P.M. at Maranatha Christian Reformed Church,
260 McGill Blvd. West, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday, April 1, 2022. Everyone is welcome to attend the
Celebration of Life. A light lunch will follow.
A private family Interment will be held prior to the Celebration of Life, at the Coaldale Community Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tymen’s favorite charity, Streets Alive Mission.