Jan Bertus "Bert" Timmer

TIMMER, Jan Bertus “Bert”

Jan Bertus Timmer passed away peacefully at 57 years of age on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the ICU in the Foothills Hospital, Calgary.  Our beloved ‘Bert’ bravely fought a 6-month battle with brain cancer.

Bert was born on November 15, 1959 in Hellevoetsluis, Holland (The Netherlands) to loving parents, Hermanus Hendrik Timmer of Putten and Greta (Koster) Timmer of Deventer.

Growing up in the Netherlands alongside his younger brother, Hans, Bert’s passion of ‘all things with motors’ began to develop early on.  They both loved cars and motorcycles and Bert discovered his strong ability to ‘work with his hands’ through fixing and modifying them.  Aside from motors, he also loved swimming, speedskating, sailing, and windsurfing.

At 13, a traumatic and pivotal event changed his life forever.  He lost his Dad to cancer which affected him deeply.  He mourned and carried that loss the rest of his life.  However, in getting to know his father better through the journals he left his family, a sense of adventure and a desire to travel was ignited within him.  And so, on May 5, 1981, he left Holland and arrived in Canada at the young age of 21 ready for what he called ‘the big question mark’.  He would have many opportunities to embrace that philosophy over the next few decades.

In Canada, Bert was sponsored and welcomed by distant cousins of his mother, Dave and Ruth Piper. ‘Uncle Dave and Aunt Ruth’ helped him immensely in immersing himself into Canadian culture.  He spent time almost every night the first year with his Aunt Ruth going through each and every word in the English dictionary, an early example of Bert’s focus, dedication and persistence.

Throughout his life, those that were acquainted with Bert personally and professionally knew that he didn’t need accreditations or titles.  He was a man of high principles and standards.  Right was right and wrong was wrong and, for him, there was nothing in between.  Everything he did in life, he did only one way – with passion and extreme focus, concentration and full out 150% effort.  To Bert, if you were going to put your energy into something, there was no other way to do it.  He gained a reputation as a fair, straight-up and talented man in his profession.  For many, Bert was not an easy person to work or live with because he demanded that you ‘do it right’ and be the best you can be.  However, if you spent any amount of time with him, you were the one that benefitted the most. 

In the spring of 1983, Bert met the love of his life, Barbara (Barb) Coker who became his best friend and partner in life.  They were married in Calgary on June 23, 1984 and began their adventure together.  They had two wonderful children.  Erik was born in April 1988 and Alex in May of 1990.

Bert began his journey in 1985 as an entrepreneur and eventually acquired Humidifier Sales & Service in 1990 and a few years later, Alberta Furnace & Heating.  With these 2 companies, he could combine his expertise in mechanical design with hands-on work, a perfect combination.  The company became known for excellent work and unique mechanical solutions in the residential field. 

After 23 years, however, Bert and Barb were tired and looking for a change.  They sold the company and began working toward their dream of retiring to Central America.  He went back full time into mechanical design working for a few years with Reinbold Engineering Group as a Senior Mechanical Designer and then finally as an Associate Principal in the Mechanical Design Department of Integral Group Calgary. 

Although, he didn’t quite realize his dream of retiring south, he always said that his bucket list was empty, that he loved his life and that he had no regrets.

Bert lived life large and was considered by those close to him, a unique personality like no other. Goofy, passionate, and driven, he held strong morals.  He was an academic, a man who liked to work with his hands, a chef, a self-taught IT specialist, a Renaissance man, a jack-of-all trades, a motorcycle enthusiast, a house designer and builder, an entrepreneur.  And, most of all, a dedicated family man, fiercely proud of his two boys and his wife, concerned about them right to the very end.

Bert is lovingly remembered by his wife, Barb; his two sons, Erik and Alex; and his only sibling, his brother, Hans Timmer.

A Celebration of Bert’s Life will be held at the Eaglequest Golf Club – Douglasdale, 7 Douglas Woods Drive SE, Calgary, AB on Sunday on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 1:00 pm. Appetizers and coffee/tea will be available as well as a cash bar.  The family will be speaking at 1:30 and would like to invite anyone wishing to share a personal story about Bert to join them.

The family wishes to thank all the doctors and nurses who cared for Bert at the Foothills Hospital, the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and finally at the ICU at Foothills.  Special thanks to Dr. John Kelly, his neurosurgeon and Joan and Heather, the ICU nurses caring for Bert in his last 24 hours.  Your compassion, words and thoughtfulness will not be forgotten!