GERARDUS "GERRY" HILGERSOM passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital surrounded by family, on Monday, September 11, 2023 at the age of 79 years.

Gerry was born on November 15, 1943 in Stompwijk, Netherlands where he would grow up as his family had for hundreds of years. At 19, his sense of adventure inspired him to leave Holland from the port of Rotterdam on April 1, 1963, aboard the SS Rijndam, arriving in Montreal on April 10 and making his way west to southern Alberta as a young Dutch farm hand in Vauxhall. Returning to Holland for a winter visit, he found his girl, Joanne, and they married. She joined him in Canada in 1969, settling on a farm near Coaldale where they raised four boys, and numerous cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens. They subdivided the land and sold the farm in the 1980s, building a house on the remaining 10 acres, and founding Hilgersom Paving Stone and Landscaping Inc. in 1988. They moved to Lethbridge in 2015 to enjoy "retirement" closer to family.

He is survived by his amazing, caring wife of 54 years, Joanne; his three sons: Cornie (Rui), Marko (Maya), and Jerry (Lindsay); his grandchildren: Ty, Haylee, Sam, Lily, Seiji, Lennox, Ari, Millie, and Sloan; sister, Jeanne (Piet); brothers, Ad (Bep) and Frank (Toos); sisters-in-law, Ineke and Lien; and many nieces and nephews in the "old country."

He was predeceased by his son, Ron (Trisha); his brothers: Jan, Kees, Cok, and Wil; and his sisters, Annie and Marianne.

He left an indelible mark across Lethbridge and southern Alberta via his landscape designs, construction projects, and furniture creations. All he needed was the seed of an idea, a simple sketch, and some measurements and a week later his creation was ready for pick up.

Never one to be shy or lacking the confidence to share his opinion, he will be greatly missed by those he leaves behind.

He was a friend, a teacher, a farmer, an entrepreneur, a problem solver, a tough guy, a loving husband, a know-it-all, a hard worker, a craftsman, and a jack of all trades and master of some. More than anything else he was a great dad and Opa. The first person to call if you had water in the basement, raccoons in your attic, or your car broke down in the parking lot.

You did good, Ger. Thank you for everything.

Thank you to the hard working, caring, and supportive medical staffs at Chinook Regional Hospital and the Peter Lougheed Centre. You are all, amazing providing compassionate care through difficult circumstances.

As per his wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation (crhfoundation.ca).