SIEMONS, Albert Emiel Siemons

It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved Albert Siemons passed away in Kelowna, BC, on April 20, 2026, a month after his 79th birthday.  He was known as “Bert” to his wife and Dutch family and friends, and “Oom Bert” to his European nieces and nephews.  In Canada, he was called Pappa, Opa, Albert, and Al.

Albert Emiel Siemons was born in the province of Groningen, in the Netherlands, in a small village named Scheemda.  He spent much of his youth in Belgium, as well as neighbouring countries, and learned many languages and dialects.  He then studied Civil Engineering in Brussels and joined the Dutch army where he would meet Matty (a.k.a. Maaike) who was studying to be a nurse.  They wed the following year and began their family in Ottignies, Belgium, with their first daughter, Regine.

With a sense of adventure, Albert decided the family should immigrate to Canada, where he would work as a civil engineer in Alberta and BC.  Albert changed career paths and opened an Army Surplus Warehouse in Richmond, BC, that supplied all the various retail surplus shops in the Lower Mainland.  Albert then decided to move to Kelowna and start his own Army Surplus Warehouse, which he ran for 33 years, until the age of 76.  Albert had customers from all across Canada, and he provided uniforms to the many essential service communities.  Everyone in Kelowna knew him or knew of him.  People would often come in just to visit him and hear his incredible stories of his time as a secret agent or of his childhood traveling across war-torn Europe.  The great thing about Albert was that he remembered his clientele.  He knew details of his various customers’ lives, down to the city they came from or even their dialect.  Albert would employ his kids, grandkids, and young people who enjoyed the army surplus world.  His most commonly quoted phrase was, “Nothing goes down in this town without me knowing about it!”, which made us kids think that we couldn’t get away with anything!

Albert was the last member of his immediate family.  Although he was a post-war baby, his brother Leon, sister Jeany, and both parents Jan & Adriana, survived the devastation of World War II.  This trauma had a significant effect on Albert and his family, which he carried with him throughout his life.  His brother, his nephews, and he continued a lifetime fascination with military vehicles and collecting army paraphernalia, which led them to coin this as “The Siemons’ Disease”.

Albert is survived by his beloved wife, Matty Siemons (née Maaike Van Houwelingen). He is reunited with his eldest daughter, Regine Siemons, who also loved and trusted the Lord Jesus and went to Heaven in 2017.  He is survived by his children, Sandra Bouchard, Robert Siemons, and Martine Bradshaw.  Albert was blessed with eleven grandchildren: Leif Bouchard, Elsa Siemons, Brodin Bradshaw, Christopher Bradshaw, Ethan Siemons, Ava Bouchard, Aiden Siemons, Skyler Siemons, Leona Bradshaw, Liam Siemons and Grace Bradshaw, (in descending age order).  Oom Bert will be greatly missed by his nephews Iwan Siemons (Barbara Lewkowicz-Siemons), Erik Siemons (Evie Claessens), and Serge Siemons (Sigrid De Boeck), and is reunited with his late nephew Sasha Siemons.

Everyone who knew Albert knew how kindhearted he was.  He had a witty and comical sense of humour and could easily get a room’s attention and laughter.  He enjoyed spending time with his family and his friends.  He always had so many stories to tell everyone that his dinner would go cold.  His children and grandchildren always bonded with him over games or work.  He enjoyed teaching the youth around him, helping with the kids’ homework or teaching them life skills.  He was a well-loved member of his community and his church.

Our lives feel like there’s a huge missing piece without Albert, loving husband, proud father, and doting grandfather.  He was a friend (as well as a mentor) to many, and he will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held to honour Al Siemons on August 8, 2026, at 11:00 am, at the Kelowna Christian School, 2870 Benvoulin Road, Kelowna, BC.