JAN BRUINOOGE

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JAN BRUINOOGE Peacefully on Thursday, April 1, 2010, Jan Bruinooge passed away at his long term care facility, the Riverview Health Centre, at the age of 77 years. Remaining to forever cherish Jan's memory are his second wife Ruth; children Nick, Allan and Rodney; daughters-in-law Katherine and Chantale; six grandchildren AJ, Johanna, Grace, Olivia, Sarah and Luke. He was predeceased by his first wife Melba in 1992; brother Daniel; brothers-in-law Hank, Roy and Don; parents, Susanna and Nicholas. Jan first arrived in Canada from Holland in 1950 with his parents, eight brothers and two sisters. Though they were enroute to Edmonton, they decided to stop in Portage La Prairie to make their home. It was while in Portage that he met his first wife Melba Garnham and they went on to have three sons. He and his family moved to Thompson, MB where they lived until 1995. With Jan's natural talent for mechanics, he had a long career with Inco Ltd. serving as a staff maintenance foreman. In 1997, Jan married Ruth Gibson and was blessed to have found such a supportive and loving person. He was very active within the Christian community as both a Gideon and in his church. He was a Boy Scout Commissioner for Manitoba in the late 1970s. Jan was a natural leader, a man of principle and worked diligently with many people on various projects. He was known as a man of his word. Jan loved kids and passed this love, along with the love of the unborn to his own children. He worked very hard and knew what it was like to have nothing. Even though Jan achieved much in his life, until the end, he remained humble. Jan battled many years against Alzheimer's disease. Although difficult for all, his battle was God's plan and will be used for His purpose. His life is perhaps best summed up by the way he cared for other people. On Tuesday, April 6 Jan's Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Grace Community Church, 280 Caron Road, located on the West Perimeter Hwy., south of Roblin Boulevard. Interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery, in Portage La Prairie at 4:00 p.m. The family wishes to express their gratitude to all the staff of Riverview Health Centre for their care and compassion shown to Jan all these years.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 03, 2010