Obituary of KOETSIER – Helenius Fredrik

July 18, 1929 – December 15, 2009 On Tuesday December 15th, 2009 at the age of 80 Ed Koetsier passed away peacefully at the Peter Lougheed Center following unexpected complications after an abdominal procedure. Ed is lovingly survived by his wife Mieke, daughter Emmy, son Dick, grandchildren Crosland, Bill, Mieke, Michael and David, brother Harro and sisters Emmy and Anneke and his best friend Peter McMahon. Ed was predeceased by two infant siblings, his father, Jan Helenius Koetsier, mother Annigje Koetsier, two sisters Ineke, Willie his beloved brother Wim and his grandson James. Ed’s remarkable life started in Holland where he lived through the destruction and occupation of a peace loving country and later celebrated the joy of a liberation led by a Canadian Army. During the war Ed learned how to survive with nothing, a lesson that kept him gracious and humble his entire life. Shortly after the war Ed’s father died and he had to step up to become the leader of the family at age 16. He always said that this was a defining moment in his life, where he turned from a punk into a focused leader. From that moment he excelled at everything he did, he went back to school and graduated with honors and became a Mining Engineer at the University in his home town of Delft. Once Ed graduated he felt he had fulfilled his obligation to the family and it was time for him to move on. He met the love of his life Mieke and they were married in 1957 and 2 months later with 350 dollars in their pockets they immigrated to Canada. Ed dreamed of opening a hamburger stand or a small factory, but when he found himself in front of the train station on 9th Avenue Ed could not resist the temptation of getting involved in Calgary’s growing oil business. Ed started his oil and gas career as an Exploitation Engineer with Shell Oil and Gas. He quit working for Shell in 1959 and almost gave up on the oil business, but when Marion Phillips drove to Saskatchewan to tell him Joe Phillips Limited was looking for an Engineer, he decided to stick it out. Ed worked day and night finding oil and drilling wells for Joe Phillips and he learned how hard work and determination would turn into big results for a small oil company. After 5 years Ed left Joe Phillips Limited and started his own company, Leddy Exploration Limited. Working for himself Ed experienced success beyond his wildest dreams. Leddy Exploration Limited is being operated today by the next generation of Koetsiers and is one of the oldest operating private oil and gas companies in the city. Ed loved nothing more than to travel with his lovely wife and visit with friends and family and tell stories about their adventures together. Ed was truly happy with his life and all his blessings and he will be sadly missed. Ed’s Family would like to thank Dr. William Hall for his care as well as all the Doctors, Nurses and staff at the Sheldon Chumir Center and especially the ICU at the Peter Lougheed Center for all their love and special care trying everything possible to save Ed and make him as comfortable as they could. If anyone wishes to make a donation in Ed’s memory, his favorite charity was The Salvation Army. Ed’s family would like to thank everyone for your amazing love and support. A Memorial Service will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Ed Koetsier a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.