Bob Dykstra

1931 - 2019

  Bouke “Robert” Dykstra Sr. of Taber, was able to go to be with his Lord on Friday July 26, 2019 at the age of 87 years.

 Relatives and friends were invited to meet with the family at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.

 The Burial Service was held at the Highfield Cemetery, located south of Burdett (from Highway 3, travel south on Range Road 121 for 20.5 kilometres, west on Township Road 82 for 1.5 kilometres, south on Range Road 122 for 3 kilometres then east on Township Road 80 for 0.5 kilometres) on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 11:00 A.M.

 The Funeral Service was held at the First Christian Reformed Church, 3902 Heritage Drive, Taber on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. 

 Bouke was born on August 14, 1931, in Tirns Fryslan, in north Holland, the seventh of eight children. He was small for his age, but could run fast. This served him well as a youngster, and later in life won him first prize at Sunday school picnics, or when sprinting across the yard with his kids.

 In 1948, he immigrated with most of his family to southern Alberta. It was here at the Iron Springs Christian Reformed Church that he met his wife and lifetime partner, Ybeltje “Yvonne” Veenstra. They married in 1954, and together raised six children Andrew (Bev), Bob Jr. (Lorraine), Rick (Lori), Wendy (Ivan) Karsten, Ted (Luci) and Janice (Paul) Lassen. Later they welcomed nineteen grandchildren and then eleven great grandchildren into their hearts.

 Bob worked as a farm hand, truck driver and ditch rider before he and Yvonne joined his father and brother in business on a dairy farm in Picture Butte in 1962. This was followed by a move to their own irrigation farm south of Burdett in 1973, and an eventual return to his original passion, driving truck. Dykstra Trucking was established in 1978 and continues to operate in the Burdett area.

 Bob’s Christian faith was important to him and led him to be involved with his local church, the establishment of a Christian school in Lethbridge and volunteering with numerous causes that he and Yvonne supported. His gift for hospitality meant there was always an invitation for a meal if you were new to the church, or a place to rest your head if you found yourself with no place to go in Burdett. He was a “doer”, stepping forward if he saw something that needed to be done. As a result, he also served as mayor in the village of Burdett for years.

 He will be greatly missed by his loving wife Yvonne, his children and their families, sister Hilda Westerhoud, sister-in-law Sylvia Dykstra as well as numerous extended family and friends.

 He was predeceased by his grandson Darren Epp; older siblings Griet Solomans, Rients Dykstra, Frank Dykstra, Jenny Horneman, Pete Dykstra and Clara Westerhoud; brothers-in-law Bill Solomans, Dick Horneman, Tim Westerhoud and Carl Westerhoud; sisters-in-law Shirley Dykstra and Anneke Dykstra. 

 If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Bob’s name may be made directly to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Box 767, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 2L4 www.foodgrainsbank.ca.