Obituary of Gerrit "Gerry" Van Teeling

VAN TEELING: It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Gerrit Cornelis (Gerry) Van Teeling, on May 7th, 2019. Dad was born October 30th, 1935 in Numansdorp, The Netherlands. After the disastrous floods in Holland in February 1953 which destroyed both their home and bakery, the family immigrated to Canada. After 3 months as a farm laborer, dad landed a job at The Commodore bakery arriving in Brandon July 1st, 1953. In October 1954, he married Jean Gonroski and shortly after they started to build their first home in the 800 block of First Street. After short stints in construction and being a butcher at Brandon Packers, dad decided to create his own job, back to the family bakery business. He and mom started Dutch Mill Bakery on a shoestring budget in October 1956 at 1235 Rosser Avenue and operated there until June 1994. Between 1959 and 1964, the family was blessed with the birth of three children, Kathy, Margo and Guy. In 1967, mom and dad purchased property at Brandosa Beach in Minnedosa, and for the next 39 years the family spent their summers there. Dad was a third generation baker and loved the bakery business. He was an innovator and travelled extensively to get new ideas, from sliced bread in plastic bags instead of wax paper, pies in foil plates in the early years, to portrait cakes in his last 10 years. His many holiday specialties as well as special occasion cakes were a must for many loyal Dutch Mill customers. Gerry was predeceased by his parents Gysbert Arie and Catherine, his loving wife of 60 years, Jean, and his daughter Kathy. He is survived by his children Margo and Bill Toovey, Guy and Heather Van Teeling. Grandchildren Britney Toovey and Jon Temple, Marisa (Trace) Trollope, Mitchell Van Teeling and Reagan Van Teeling. He is also survived by his only brother, Casey in Edmonton. A private family memorial will be held at a later date. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.