Duinker
Guurtje (Gertie) Catharina
Gertie was born, the third of four children, to Arie and Trijntje Bakker in Egmond aan Zee, Noord Holland, Nederland, on December 31, 1925. In late 1942, a young merchant seaman, Joop (John) Duinker came to her father's farm to hide from the Nazis and life as a slave sailor. In 1950, she and Joop married, became parents to Nanning (Norm) in 1951 and immigrated to the Holland Marsh, Ontario, in May 1953. Soon after, Peter was born followed by Andy, Katty, Bruce, David, and Angie over the next 10 years. From 1955 to 1991, Joop and Gertie farmed in Ravenshoe, Tehkummah (Manitoulin Island) and Markham with stops in Sharon and Don Mills. They retired to Peter’s home in Thunder Bay in 1991, followed by a final move to Katty’s home in Rimbey, Alberta, in 1994. She was predeceased by Joop in 1998. Gertie died at home on November 15, 2011.