It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Margrietha (Marg) van Yzerloo of Kelowna BC, who left us suddenly on January 5th, 2016. She was preceded by her husband Willem (Bill) in 1993, her brother Gary (Ine) Erkens in 2014, her father in 1974 and her mother in 1984.
Marg will be dearly missed by her loving children, daughter Patricia (Lawrence) Jeffrey, her daughter Suzanne (Fred) Basson and her son Bill (Shelly); her beloved grandchildren Bryce (Kim), Brianne (Jerred), Janelle (Matthew), Dustin (Alison), Curtis, Stephanie (Mike), Kyle (Zaida), Devon and step grandchildren Wendy, Graeme (Daniel) and Brent (Michelle). She was also a very special Oma to her great grandchildren, Benjamin, Dylan, December, Brighton, Brinsley, Mia, Camryn, Cadynce, Maya, Ethan, Asher and Jackson. She is also survived by her sister Elisabeth Klassen in Dordrecht, her sister-in-law Lanie (Claire) Provost of Kelowna and many nieces and nephews in the Netherlands.
Marg was born in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, on September 15, 1926. After spending her formative years surviving WW2, she met the love of her life at the local track and field club. In 1951 she married Bill and they started their adventure in Canada that year. They eventually settled in Castlegar BC in 1954 after initially living in Grand Forks, BC and Trail BC.
Marg had a passion for sports and was a longtime member of the Castlegar Curling Club since its inception. Her love for curling was passed down to her children and grandchildren. Marg held numerous volunteer positions in the Castlegar Curling Club, and also served as zone convenor of the West Kootenay Zone of the BCLCA from 1970 to 1983. She represented the East and West Kootenay district in five provincial curling championships.
She also loved swimming, although she did not swim in her first competition until she was 64 years old. Once bitten by the competition bug you could not hold her back. She took part in many senior and master swimming competitions well into her 70’s, and brought home many medals.
When her daughters were younger, Marg was Brown Owl volunteer in the Girl Guide movement and served for a number of years as secretary and test-secretary for the Castlegar Figure Skating Club. She enjoyed many handicrafts including knitting, loved reading and loved watching all kinds of sports (especially curling).
In her later years she kept in contact with her large family by becoming an active social media user. Many a times would she post a “selfie” on Facebook much to our enjoyment. Everyone loved connecting with Marg on-line. She will be sorely missed.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place at Castlegar, BC later this year.