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
Art was a good man, good neighbour and great mentor. I was honoured to called him a good friend.
Thank you, Art.
My condolences go out to the entire Kool Clan.
Ian Vantreight
Dear Alice, Rick and Rhonda, Diane and Nick, Caitlin and family,
Our deepest condolences to all of you!
We are very sad that our dear brother and uncle Art passed away. It is a great loss for all of us.
We have great memories of him.
Although he lived most of his life in Canada and we live in Holland, he was always in our hearts.
He often visited Holland and when we saw him again it was like we saw Art yesterday. It always felt right and familiar.
We are very proud of what he accomplished in his life in Canada; his family, his work, the boatlife (on the Aralee). He was a very special man. We will miss him.
We wish you all a lot of strength in these incredible hard times!
In our hearts we are with you, thinking of you.
All the best!
Love your sister Yvonne Brandhorst-Kool (and André), Saskia, Natalie, Henk, Rody, Sterre, Björn, Merlijn and Lars
Geri and I extend heartfelt condolences on the loss of Art. Art was a treasure and a joy to share time with. We loved his stories and love of life, and regret the health struggles he had to face for the past several months. Art was blessed with many friendships, and we hope that you, Alice, can take some comfort in knowing that Art made his admiration and appreciation of you widely known.
Len.and Marg Bieller
Feb12 2019
Our deepest sympathy to Alice and family.Art will be forever in your hearts.
Cherish the memories.
Dear Alice and Family,
Our sympathy to all of you. We hope that fond memories of earlier days will comfort you through the days to come. Strength and courage.
We were saddened to learn of Art’s passing. Our condolences go out to Alice and all of the family. Take comfort in the many good times you shared together.
John and Emma Robbins
Dear Alice:
We were very saddened to hear of Art’s passing.
He was a remarkable man and we were glad to have known him, even for just a short while.
Our deepest sympathies to you and your family.
Elis (Al) and Maureen Vandenberg
Alice and family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Art was a true gem of a man and a shining example of what you can accomplish when you treat people the right way. I’m sure you know he had a wonderful influence on this world and that influence will live on. Best wishes
To Alice, Rick and Rhonda, Diane and Nick and Caitlin,
Donna and I (peter) where very upset with the loss of your Husband, Father and Grandfather
We where friend s for a long time, I first met your Husband and Dad ack in Holland in Bennekom,
In 1947 Ho went to Canada just before Me I think it was about February 1955 and I arrived in A;ril
1955 and we never lost track of one and other, again Art will be missed Donna An Peter
Dear Alice and family.
Vaughan and I would like to send you our deepest condolences and wish you lots of strength in the coming days, weeks and months. Art’s physical departure will leave a large whole in your hearts, as he was a very special man. I liked him right from the get go. It was such a pleasure to meet you, Alice and Art, at the VCC get-togethers. Thinking of you lots during these difficult times. xoxox