Obituaries

 

Albert Brouwer

POYNETTE –  Albert Brouwer passed from this life on March 20, 2012 at the venerable age of 96 at Our House Assisted Care in Portage, WI.

Albert was born in Amstelveen, The Netherlands on July 30, 1915.  His parents were Arie and Willemina Brouwer, and he was the oldest boy of their ten children.  He married the girl up the block, Aafje Scharff, on March 25, 1943 in the midst of WWII.  The following year, during the German occupation of his country, their son, Nico Arie was born.  In 1946 came the birth of twin sons Bert and Onno.  A daughter, Wilma, was born in 1954.  Wanting more opportunities for his children, passage to America via steamship was booked and he brought the entire clan to Madison, WI in May of 1957.  Two years later, an old Victorian house in Poynette was purchased and it became the family’s homestead in the new world.  From youthful baggage handler at KLM in Holland to a skillful six color offset pressman in the U.S.A., Albert did all with a quiet and uncomplaining nature.  His motto was “There is nothing better than work”.  Hobbies were just those things that tided you over until Monday rolled around again.  He helped his children with their home improvement/fix it projects where he could, but having two self-proclaimed “left hands” made his efforts often more comical than helpful.

Albert enjoyed coin and stamp collecting, refereeing soccer games, feeding the birds, chasing around a golf ball, watching Jeopardy and The Price Is Right, playing Klaverjas, doing crossword puzzles, and completing the daily CryptoQuote cryptogram, which, amazingly, he could solve within the hour.  ‘Amazingly’ because he knew very little English when he disembarked at NYC’s Pier 66 in 1957.  He also appreciated a long walk on a sunny day and being home with his family.  He was a man of simple wants and needs who was lucky enough to have had a long and healthy life.

Surviving Albert is his wife of 69 years, Aafje, who still lives in the family home;  son Nico (Jan and daughters Elizabeth [children Seth and Sierra] and Deborah);  son Bert (Jane Marshall and children Whit and Lisa);  son Onno (Stefanie and daughters Marieka [Jonathan Burg] and Louisa);  daughter Wilma (Jim and his children Carl and Gretchen).  Other survivors include a sister Hermina, four sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended kin in the U.S., Canada, and Holland.  Several couples round out those who will miss Albert, his mischievous wit, and his little happy dances.

Burial will be private.  A gathering to remember Albert will be held at a later date.  Memorials can be made in his honor to a charity or worthy cause of your choice.

The family gives heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Divine Savior Hospital, Our House Assisted Care, and Southern Care Hospice.  Albert’s brief decline was made easier due to their compassionate attention.

The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Poynette is assisting the family. 

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)