Obituary of Bart Leenders

Leenders, Bart Bart Leenders passed away on August 29, 2016, at the age of 61, with his family at his side. Bart is lovingly remembered by his wife Elly, his daughters Trish (Scotty) Anderson, Janet (Daniel) Roelands; his son Marty Leenders (Tracy Hunsberger); his grandchildren Elliot and Miles Anderson, Hannah, Dominic, Aaron, Anthony and Jordan Roelands; his brother Theo (Anne) Leenders; his sisters Liesbeth Janssen and Marian (Stan) Kroekenstoel; his father-in-law Jack Smeekens; his brothers and sisters-in-law Jane Rombouts, Frank (Karen) Smeekens, Lia (Mark) Schepers, Pete (Nell) Smeekens, Jim (Anita) Smeekens; and his nieces and nephews. Bart is predeceased by his infant daughter, his parents Rudolf and Theresa Leenders, his mother-in-law Wilma Smeekens, and his brothers-in-law Pete Rombouts and Koos Janssen. Born in the Netherlands, Bart moved to Canada with his family at the age of 18, in 1973. Bart worked on the family dairy farm until he met his true love Elly Smeekens. He and Elly raised their children on a dairy farm near Stratford. In 2000 they sold the cows and joined the pork industry. In 2013 they retired to a farm near Forest, Ontario. Farming was Bart's life and he farmed whenever he could, and spoke of it whenever he couldn't, treasuring the stories, relationships and pride he cultivated along the way. Following Bart's request, there will be a private burial. We welcome family and friends to join us for a celebration of Bart's life which will be held at The Forest Legion (58 Albert St., Forest, Ontario), on Thursday, September 1, 2016, from 7:00 pm – 10:00pm. Memorial donations in memory of Bart may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Online condolences may be left at www.denning.ca Funeral arrangements entrusted to DENNINGS OF FOREST