STOFFER (DUSTY) WATERMULDER

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STOFFER (DUSTY) WATERMULDER

I'm writing this as though I'm saying it to you, big brother...



You'd suddenly and sadly left us unexpectedly the evening of December 13, 2021, at the long-term care facility (Extendicare), where you'd resided since May 3, 2021, following a variety of lengthy health challenges.



You were born in Groningen, Netherlands, the youngest son of our mom, Fenna (pronounced like Jenna) and dad Hendrikus (Henry) Watermulder's two sons; our older brother Henry being nearly 13 months older than you. Some time in 1952, our then family of four left the Netherlands, to start new lives in Canada, starting first in Montreal and then not long after, the Westwood area of Winnipeg, on Bedson Street. You and your brother Henry both attended Lincoln Elementary and later Westwood Collegiate together and you also went on to attend the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, in 1974.



You were my earliest influence to the importance of physical fitness and were very athletic in your 20s and 30s; loved participating in and watching hockey, football and even frequently hitting the Deer Lodge tennis courts! You were who'd introduced me to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in my early childhood (and I fervently follow them till this day), being one of the most steadfast and loyal Blue Bomber fans I'd ever known and am so thankful they finally started winning in 2019, while you were still well enough to enjoy that long overdue, well-deserved championship, breaking their infamous league-wide record for no Grey Cup wins since 1990! You taught me how to ride a bike and didn't seem to even mind removing and re-installing training wheels umpteen times and also taught me how to throw a really mean baseball! When the Bombers won back-to-back Grey Cups on December 12, 2021, that literally was the day before you'd passed. I'm hoping the staff at Extendicare told you about the back-to-back win and can't help wondering if you'd pondered: Wow! They won AGAIN! I can go back to my Creator now!



You became interested in darts, too and even joined some leagues in the St. James area, which eventually even introduced you to your wife, Dorothy in the late 90s, who'd sadly predeceased you by nearly two-and-a-half years.



You and I were 19.5 years apart age-wise to-the-day, with your birthday being February 25, 1949, and mine August 25, 1968, and when I'd tell kids at school, I bet my big brother is bigger than yours - no one's big brother ever came even close to being anywhere near as big as you, towering over them all at 6' 1! Heck - you were old enough to be their dad! That was besides the point though, because you were my adopted brother - not dad.



Though you'd earned your degree in Computer Science from U of M, after a heart attack suddenly and tragically took our dad Henry from us, the morning of December 9, 1977, all our lives were changed many different ways of course, but for you especially, suddenly being thrust into the role of father figure to me, rather than that of big brother, literally the very same morning Henry died, instead of searching for a career in computer science, you instead changed your career to welding. You went to work the morning of that fateful day and drove back home, (after learning Henry died) responsibly and unwaveringly accepting your new role as that of father figure, staying with and taking care of mom and I all those years, instead of pursuing a wife and starting your own family like our elder brother Henry did in his early 20s. Dad would have been really proud of you, Dusty, as am I.



You really loved animals and had a very kind heart and great sense of humour. Thank you so much for all you did for mom and I. I believe you're with our family members now, including the furry and feathered ones!

Until we meet again, big brother...

Your loving sister Barb

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 13, 2023, Dec 13, 2023