Obituary

Of Listowel, went home to be with his Lord, on Tuesday February 7, 2023, in his 92nd year. Loving husband of the late Alice (Greidanus) Bakelaar. Father of Adrian & Maria Bakelaar of Exeter, John & Wilma Bakelaar of Carrying Place, Tim & Karen Bakelaar of Listowel, and Derek & Sharon Bakelaar of Hensall. Opa of Nathaniel & Lisa Bakelaar, Alicia & Trevor Askes, Melissa & Josh Van Rootselaar, Katelyn Bakelaar, Lawrence Bakelaar & Germaine Cave, Sara & Spencer Mayer, Bethany Olaski, Jenna & Evan Noble, Jared & Dhita Sirois-Bakelaar, Graham & Alison Bakelaar, Rodney Bakelaar, Alex Bakelaar & Kate McLeod, Matthew Bakelaar & Jessica VandenBrink, Kristen & Kurtis Goad, Kara & Jesse Millar.  Cherished Great-Opa of 18 Great Grandchildren. Brother of John & Paulette Bakelaar of Dorchester, and brother-in-law of Janet Bakelaar, Hudsonville, Michigan. Brother-in-law of Gerrit Haak, Don & Greta Greidanus, all of Clinton, Joanne & Jack Koestier of Listowel, Leo & Eileen Greidanus of Seaforth. Uncle to many nieces and nephews. Neil was predeceased by his infant granddaughter Allison Bakelaar, his brother Adriaan and sister Magdalena Bakelaar in childhood in the Netherlands, his parents Adriaan & Adriaantje (VanderVeer) Bakelaar, brothers Bill Bakelaar, and Peter & Shirley Bakelaar, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Leo, Jim & Theresa Greidanus, John & Grace Greidanus, Jannie & Albert Valkenburg, Burt & Riek Greidanus, Corrie Haak and Wilma Holland. Cornelis Willem (Neil) was born in the town of Hoofdorp, Netherlands, on January 4, 1932. The family moved to Veenendaal in 1936, and then to Bergambacht in the late 40’s where they owned a small clock and optometry shop. The war and the passing of his little brother Adriaan, and sister Magdalena were hard years for the family. April 18, 1952, Cornelis, with his parents Adriaan & Adriaantje, Willem, Pieter, and Jan immigrated to Tilsonburg, Ontario, Canada, hoping to start a new life in the watch, clock and jewellery trades. Once in Canada, they changed their names to Adrian, Jane, Bill, Peter, Neil and John. Neil and his dad got a job as watchmakers, and Bill and Peter found work in the watch and jewellery trades in London. John, who was 11 years old, started school in a new country and his Mom went to work on the tobacco farms. In 1955, they bought a house and workshop in Ingersoll and accepted repair work from local jewellery stores. When his Dad’s health failed they closed the shop. December 26, 1958, Neil married Alice Greidanus. They started their life together in Tavistock; rented a small store and concentrated on repair work. In 1967, they moved to Listowel and bought Johnstone Jewellers and renamed it Bakelaar Jewellers Limited. Listowel became home to raise their 4 sons, Adrian, John, Tim and Derek, and they were blessed with 59 years of marriage. Neil valued his family, his church and his community, taking active roles in many committees. His greatest achievement was rebuilding the Listowel Post Office clock with Tim, that proudly rings every day at the cenotaph. His greatest pride are his 4 sons, 4 daughter-in-laws, 15 grandchildren and their 12 partners, and 18 great-grandchildren. Neil Bakelaar, our Dad and Opa will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held at the Eaton Funeral Home, Listowel on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 4:00 to 7:00pm. The funeral service will be held at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Listowel, on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 11:00am. Pastor Henry Meinen officiating. The service will be live-streamed and the link available on the funeral home website. Private family interment in Fairview Cemetery, Listowel. Memorial donations to Listowel Memorial Hospital Foundation or North Perth Community Hospice would be appreciated. Online condolences may be left at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca