Vissers, Lambertus C. "Bert" –
93, of East Stewiacke, passed away peacefully June 19, 2015 at the
Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro. Born in 1921 in Groesbeek,
Holland he was a son of the late Jacobus and Theodora (Jacobs)
Vissers.
During WWII he was active in the Dutch Underground which
helped allied pilots escape captivity by the German Military. When the
allies freed Groesbeek in 1944, he joined the Dutch army and served
both in Holland and Indonesia. In early 1947, Bert was employed by the
Royal Dutch Oil Company in Jacarta, Indonesia and was sent to Sorong,
New Guinea, where he was the youngest executive that company employed.
The next year, his wife Thea and family joined him there. In 1953, his
wife and children went to Holland where he joined them four months
later. Bert left the oil company in 1954 and immigrated with his
family to Ontario where he operated tobacco, dairy and hog farms.
Later, he purchased a grocery and meat store which he operated until
moving to Nova Scotia in 1967.
Bert founded Winding River Farms, and with the help of his
children and grandchildren, he built it into one of the most modern
and successful dairy farms in Nova Scotia. Initially the farm shipped
milk to Twin Cities Dairy until 1974, when he was instrumental in the
development of Baxter’s Dairy in Nova Scotia. He later
became president of the Baxter’s Group of Milk Shippers in
Nova Scotia, was an executive member of Nova Scotia Milk Producers, a
director of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, and worked to
develop the founding of the School Milk Program. He was a founding
member and past chairman of the Nova Scotia Crop Insurance Commission.
During his chairmanship the program expanded and the first livestock
insurance program in Canada was implemented. He also served as a
member of the Nova Scotia Crop and Livestock Insurance arbitration
board. He founded Bert’s International Sauce company using a
recipe he obtained in Indonesia. He later sold the
company.
A no nonsense man to the world, Bert was a kind and loving
husband, father, and grandfather and was known as Opa to the family.
Bert is survived by his wife of 69 years, Thea; daughters, Mary (Leo)
Harbers; Thea (Robert) Toole; Ann (Bruce) Mowatt; Kathy (Roger) Cox;
sons, Jack (Beverley); Arnold (Theresa); Peter (Anja); John (Nancy);
Ronald (Victoria); sisters, Rika and Dorothy (Nick), Ontario; Mary,
Holland; sisters-in-law, Mary, Holland; Ann, Milford; many
grandchildren and great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and
cousins. He was predeceased by son, Bert Jr.; brothers, John and
Peter; sister, Christine; grandson, Derek; son-in-law,
Murray.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall-Varner Funeral
Home, 55 Young Street, Truro. There will be no visitation. A
private family funeral service will be held at the funeral home 2:30
pm Monday, June 22, 2015, Father Dariusz Miskowicz officiating,
followed by interment in Pine Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to Pine Grove Cemetery or a charity of choice.
Private messages of condolence may be sent to the family by viewing
Bert’s obituary on-line and selecting "Send A
Condolence" at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com