It is with sadness that we announce the sudden death of Menno at the Royal Jubilee Hospital on January 31, 2017 at 11:16 am. He was 84 years old. Menno was born in Assen, the Netherlands. He was the son of Jan Tromp and Jentje Tromp-van der Graaf.  He had an older brother, Jan and his sister, Gerda lives in Washington,DC.

Menno studied to be a civil engineer in the city of Groningen.  After he graduated, he spent a short compulsory time in the army, something not to his liking. There was a moment of pride however when during National shooting competitions, he won a medal for 1st prize in the entire Dutch army.  He also worked as an Engineer for the City of Amsterdam.

Married for 61 years, he and his soulmate, Sheri, emigrated to Canada in 1956.  From Halifax, they traveled by train to Vancouver, crossing over to Victoria, with $50 in their pockets. He immediately got a job offer with the Bridge Department. After working on bridges in Telkwa, Prince George and Vernon, he lost his job due to the recession. He then worked as a land surveyor in the three prairie provinces, where his sons Michael, Stanley and Ian were born.

He obtained his Canadian Professional Engineer status in Manitoba, and after 3 years working at the Bridge Department in Winnipeg, decided to move his family back to Victoria.  After hearing Maharishi speak in Victoria, Menno (along with Sheri) decided to learn Transcendental Meditation, a practice which became a lifelong passion for him. Enjoying the stress reduction and other benefits, Menno then took the Transcendental Teacher’s Training in Europe with Maharishi and became a TM teacher. He founded his own successful engineering practice, as well as finding meaningful contacts with the Indigenous Peoples. He loved his three sons and was very proud of each one of them. He considered his two daughters-in-law Teresa and Lisa, as his own daughters and his grandchildren, Matthew, Christina, Jasmine, Alexander and James were the joy of his life.

In 2015, Menno suffered a severe fall, and spent the next one and a half years in rehab care. During his last year at the Aberdeen rehab facility, he finalized the engineering work that was still in progress with his existing clients and also made many new friends.

The family would like to thank Menno’s family physician, Dr. Frank Egan for his excellent and compassionate care during his rehab. He did not give up on Menno.

He will be missed by his family and friends, as well as many clients. If he were here, his words would probably be familiar- “remember to go sit and meditate”.

He will be remembered for his kindness, intelligence, and sense of humour.

A Memorial Service for Menno will be held at the Unitarian Church of Victoria at 5575 West Saanich Road on Saturday, February 25 at 2 pm.

If desired, donations to a charity of your choice would be welcome.

Condolences and memories can be sent to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

  • Bernadette (Lavallee, Rolls) Whitmore

    Sending thoughts of condolence to all the family, and remembering Menno and your kindness to me when I rented an upstairs room in your house on Oak Bay Avenue many years ago.
    -Bernadette (Lavallee, Rolls) Whitmore

  • Marion Pape

    Dear Sheri, Michael, Stanley and Ian.

    Sheri, I loved hearing your and Menno’s stories. What a rich life you had together full of memories to treasure. I wish I could be at the memorial service but cannot.

    Wishing you the best in the days ahead.

    Marion Pape

  • Rowena

    I am sorry to hear of Menno’s passing.It sounds like he had good care. My condolences to the whole family. John and Rowena

  • Don and Clare Vipond

    Dear Sheri, Michael, Stanley and Ian.
    We are holding you in our hearts. Menno was a man to be remembered.
    Sorry we will be out of town for his memorial, but we will be thinking of you.
    Regards,
    Clare and Don Vipond.

Leave Condolence

Type your condolence message into the box below and click "Submit". It may take up to 24 hours for it to appear. Your email address will not be published.

*

Search Website

ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR