Tribute

It is with deep sadness that the family of Machielis (Mike) Holthuysen announces his death, at home, with his wife, Yu Li, and his family by his side. Mike was born in the Netherlands, the eldest son of 11 children to Machielis Sr. and Cornelia Holthuysen.

Mike was the first child to come to Canada, which began an entourage of Holthuysen children immigrating to Canada. He landed first in Edmonton, Alberta, then to Uranium City working in the mines. He went to Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, before going back to Holland to marry his first wife, Kitty. Together they went back to Fort Smith where his eldest child, Michael, was born. After a brief time in Ottawa, they settled in Richmond, BC. Mike was an educated man who was an engineer, electrician and professor (MBA Simon Fraser) of business economics. He took a job with the federal government in Ottawa with Indian and Eskimo Affairs and retired with 35 years of service. Back on the West Coast with his second wife, Jayne, Mike’s family grew in North Vancouver with two more children, Janet and Jaime. His adventures and wanderlust took him to China, teaching and touring the country. He married his third wife in China and brought her to Powell River, BC where they were raising their two daughters, Sophia and Helena.

Mike is predeceased by his parents; brother Paul; sisters Tony (Ray), Trudy (Theo) and Lucia (Heinz). He is survived by his brothers Dick (Anne) and Leo (Evelyn), and sisters Tina (Nick), Michaela (Bill), Marta (Dudley), and Caecilia (Jerry). He is also survived by his children Michael Jr. (Gail), Janet Sook-Hin (Danny), Jaime Sooke-Khan (Pat), Sophia and Helena, and grandchildren Ethan Yee-Jiun, Thea Bo-Jee, and

Jack Kai-Ming, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Thank you for our wonderful life together Mike, it was too soon to see you go. I will look toward the day we will be together again!

{C}The family would like to thank Dr. Chao, Dr. Rojas, Dr. Prchal; Carolyn, Sheena and the Home Support staff, and the nurses on the fourth floor for their kindness, support, and compassionate care of Mike during his illness. Mass of Christian burial will be held at the Church of the Assumption, 7109 Glacier Street, Powell River, BC at 1 pm on Saturday, October 3.

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