WILLIAM (BILL) PLANTJE

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WILLIAM (BILL) PLANTJE On Saturday, September 21, 2002, at Victoria General Hospital, Bill Plantje, 86 years of age, beloved husband of Eva, peacefully passed away. Bill, the eldest son of Dutch immigrants, Johannes Plantje and Barbara Muller, was born in North Kildonan on October 27, 1915, his mothers 27th birthday. The family moved to St. Vital when Bill was very young and he resided there the rest of his life. He attended Norberry School, finishing grade 8 in 1930, at which time he went to work in a butcher shop to help support the family. Later he took seasonal employment in market gardening supplemented with winter employment as a ranch hand. Bill served in the Army and returned to market gardening at the end of the war. In 1960, Bill and Eva started their own greenhouse business, Bills Greenhouses, which they operated until 1979, at which time their son took over the business and Bill continued to work alongside his son for the remainder of his life. In addition to his enjoyment of flowers and gardening, Bill loved to go fishing and hunting with his brothers and many good friends. He will be remembered for his kindness and generosity, having shared vegetables from his garden and crafted several cedar chests for many friends and family members. His first love was his family and he was dedicated to their care and comfort. He especially loved to host family gatherings, the last of which was a family picnic in his backyard on the August long weekend of this year. Bill was keenly interested in the lives and careers of his children and grand-children and was extremely proud of their accomplishments. In addition to Eva, his best friend and loving wife of 61 years, he leaves to cherish his memory his three children, Barbara Taylor (Gary Garbutt), Betty-Ann Wiebe (David) and Bill (Jackie) his five grandchildren, Marnie, Nikki, Jason, Dana, Scott; and great-grandson, Dylan. Bill is also survived by his sisters, Jo Matthews and Bert ONeil; sister-in-law Mary Plantje; Evas brothers and sisters; as well as many nieces, nephews and their extended families. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Harry and Lou; sister-in-law Helen Plantje; and brothers-in-law, Asa Matthews and Tip ONeil. A celebration of Bills life will be held on Saturday, September 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Green Acres Funeral Chapel, Highway No. 1 East at Navin Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bills memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 6 Donald St., Suite 200, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 0K6, or to a favourite charity. GREEN ACRES FUNERAL CHAPEL 222-3241

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 26, 2002