Obituary of Mattheus "Matt" Holleman

HOLLEMAN, Mattheus “Matt”

Age 69, died May 5, 2018 at home in Windsor with family. He was born in Den Bommel in the Netherlands and immigrated with his family to the Annapolis Valley when he was five. He was a son of the late Simon Sr. and Adriaantje (Kleybergen) Holleman.

Matt graduated with a M.Sc. from Acadia in 1976. He worked as a geologist with Gulf Minerals Corp. and CGC Inc for 31 years. He was happy to have had the opportunity to travel North America exploring for limestone, uranium, and gypsum as well as mapping and maintaining reserves in various mines and quarries. He also worked as an electrician’s helper, hospital orderly, business machine mechanic, farmer, boiler operator on a cargo ship, and Commissionaire. Matt achieved the Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of Professional Engineers the year of his retirement.

Matt enjoyed spending time with the family and traveling with them. His many interests included Choral singing, playing the reed organ, flute and ukulele, kayaking, hiking, playing Pickleball, painting and square dancing.

He is survived by his loving wife, Alice (Schoon) Holleman: daughters, Amy (Matt) Kirubakaran, Ottawa; Vicki, Windsor; sons, Mark (Cassandra), Halifax; Lucas, Windsor; grandchildren, Alyssa, Roselyn, Sophia, Joseph; sisters, Lena Miedema, Berwick; JoAnn Noordermeer, Berwick; Pauline (Paul) Dexter, Liverpool; Adrianna McNeil, Middleton; Wilma (Vaughn) Bosma, Fredericton: brothers, Ary (Val), Dartmouth; John (Janet), Cambridge; Simon (Marion), Grafton; Tony (Sheana), Falmouth; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by brother, Kees.

Arrangements have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317), where the family will receive visitors on Tuesday, May 8 from 6-8 p.m. A second visitation will be held at Windsor United Church, 613 King St. on Wednesday, May 9 from 2-3 p.m., followed by a funeral service beginning at 3:15 p.m. with Rev. David Hann officiating. A private family interment will take place in Maplewood Cemetery. A reception will follow in the church annex. Donations in memory of Matt may be made to Canadian Red Cross, 133 Troop Ave., Dartmouth, NS B3B 2A7 or Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada, 2 Bloor Street West, Suite No. 700, Toronto, ON M4W 3R1. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfumeralhome.ca