Following a short and intense battle with seizures, we lost our beloved patriarch. Left to mourn his passing are his wife of 43 years, Alice; son, Rick (Rhonda); daughter, Diana (Nick); cherished granddaughter, Caitlin and very special family members Valerie and Melinda.
Art was born in Wageningen, Holland and immigrated on his own at the age of 17, arriving in Saskatoon. He spent a short time working on farms and in mining. However, the west coast beckoned and he set off for Port Alberni—a boom town in those days. There, he worked in trucking and married his first wife, Ann, the mother of his two children.
He moved the family to Victoria in 1960, where he started Reliable Transfer, a household goods moving and storage company. Alice joined the company in 1967. The two became an inseparable team, building the business and eventually marrying in 1976. Art bought land in the Royal Oak area to expand his trucking business and soon realized that this land was far too valuable to become a parking lot for trucks. He sold Reliable Transfer in 1975 and set out to rezone the land in Royal Oak. He was very instrumental in the creation of the Royal Oak Industrial Park and the visionary of the present-day Harris Green area.
Art built and owned many projects in the Greater Victoria area through his construction business, Aral Construction. He was very active in the Urban Development Institute and earned a reputation in business as a tough but fair negotiator. His word was his contract. In 1989, he became involved in First Island Financial Services, retiring from this venture only in April 2018.
Life was not all business for Art. He adored spending time with his only grandchild, Caitlin. He and Alice enjoyed decades of boating in our local waters. His last boat, the Aralee, was a classic 53’ Canoe Cove that took them as far north as Alaska and most boating destinations in between. They enjoyed 23 very happy years on the Aralee and were members of the Victoria Cruising Club for much of that time. Art and Alice travelled extensively and loved cruising the world.
Art was always very grateful for the opportunities that this great country presented to a hard-working, ambitious young immigrant and never missed a chance to be a mentor to others. He was a great supporter of many meaningful causes in Victoria. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Victoria Foundation in Art’s memory. The Art Kool Legacy Fund will support causes of importance to Art and his family. Donations to the Victoria Foundation may be made by calling 250-381-5532, #200 – 703 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1E2.
A Celebration of Art’s Life will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, March 29, 2019 at Victoria Ocean Point Resort, 100 Harbour Road, Victoria, BC.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
25 Responses
Peter ,Donna Schuller
To Alice, Rick and Rhonda Diane and Nick and Caitlin.
our hart felt condolences with the Loss of your Husband, Father and Grandfather
WE go back a long time when I first met Art in Holland in 1947 and been friends ever sins
We will miss Art, I can not belief He is Has passed away
A dear man, our privilege to know, albeit briefly. Our condolences to Alice and the family.
So very sad to here of the passing of Art. I had many conversations with Art about world events and Holland as my sister lives there I spoke a few words to Art in Dutch and he always corrected me with my pronunciation. I will miss our talks. My condolences to Alice, Diane and family.
So sorry to hear of Art’s passing. He was a wonderful man. Our love and prayers are with you and the family during this difficult time. Your memories are yours forever. Bruce and Tina Henderson.
Art was one of the few all seaon sailors and also an all around straight shooter who sailed our coastal waterways. Our condolonces to Alice and family.
Dear Rick, Diana and Alice,
Please accept our heart felt condolences on the loss of your father and husband. We have a special connection, first of all through your uncle Pete, since 1955 in holland your dad’s fast friend.
Then of course your dad marrying our sister Ann we all became family. All the best in this most difficult time for all of you and your family, our thoughts are with you.
Love, aunt Erayna (Irene) and uncle Case (Kees) and all our family, Guelph Ontario
Thank you for letting us know of Art’s memorial service. The write up of Art is perfect as it does tell the story of his life and what one can do if you work hard. We will see you on the 29th.
Love Don and Alice
Hi Alice
Still hard to believe
Had tons of fun with the old guy with
some of are antics
He will be missed
PHIL Hendry
Our deepest sympathy to Alice & Family. We hope your memories of Art will give you comfort in years to come. Memories are the legacy of love. We know he will live on in your hearts always.
I will really miss his company, long stories and the many dinners we shared. Also being your guests on many boating trips.