William 'Bill' Poelman

William (Bill) was born on April 22, 1933 near Granum, Alberta, where he was raised and lived most of his life.  He married his sweetheart Hetty (nee Riepma) on March 29, 1955.  They were blessed with a devoted marriage of over 65 years.  Besides his loving wife Hetty, Bill is survived by loving children Ethel Tomiyama (Ken), Glen Poelman (Joyce), June Mann (Randy), Lois May (Bill), 13 grandchildren and  17 great-grandchildren.

Bill and Hetty owned and operated a successful grain farm until spring 1995, when they retired into Fort Macleod.  Bill was widely known for his expertise in automotive and farm equipment mechanics.  He usually had a backlog of customers waiting for the services he performed out of his well-equipped garage.  He was in demand as well for his ability to expertly build or fix nearly anything.

The centre of Bill’s life was the Granum Christian Reformed Church community, where he served many terms as elder and could often be found visiting those in need of consolation or encouragement.  He was humble and compassionate but never afraid to say what needed to be said.  His faith assured him that he was going home to be with his Lord.  He went there when he peacefully passed away on April 21, 2020.

A private funeral service and burial ceremony (because of Covid-19 restrictions) will be held on Monday, April 27, 2020, at Granum.

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