August 13, 1944 – December 27, 2012
After a wonderful and full life, Tony, age 68, passed away peacefully at the Kiwanis Pavilion in Victoria, BC. Tony was born in Fritzlar, Germany during WWII to Jacoba and Heinz.
Tony is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Cindy Lazaruk. He is predeceased by parents Jacoba and Gerrit Lobbezoo, his father Heinz Oswald Knofel and auntie Henrika Pudek.
Tony is lovingly remembered by sister Helga (Jan) Bentley of Germany, brother Fred (Tina) Lobbezoo of Kamloops, mother-in-law Eva Lazaruk of Winnipeg, sisters-in-law Wonita (Victor) Giacomin of Burnaby, Susan Lazaruk of Vancouver, Linda (Mark) Murray of Kamloops, brother-in-law David Lazaruk of Winnipeg, nieces and nephews Nicole, Yvonne, Matthew, Liam, John Jerry, Chrissy, Stacey, Jeffrey, Bradley and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Tony was a man of intelligence, character, energy and compassion and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Tony had a love for the great outdoors and would go camping every weekend if he could. He travelled extensively, including a solo trip across the USA by motorcycle; a year long trip with Cindy across Canada and the USA; European trips to Germany & France; annual trips to Lake Tahoe, Nevada for skiing and the big island of Hawaii for diving. He was an expert water skiier, snow skiier and achieved his PADI Master Scuba certification in San Diego. His love of the outdoors, travelling and sports was a perfect outlet for his other passion; photography. Tony was very proud of his photos; particularly his underwater photos, for which he won awards. He even had one photograph used by Nikon in one of their advertisements.
Tony had such a unique and interesting life, which started in Germany, included a few years in Holland and ended up in Canada. Tony was a master story-teller and loved sharing his life experiences with anyone who would listen. One of our favorites is when he gave John Wayne directions to the post office in Victoria. As his dementia progressed, his stories got more elaborate, until he was telling everyone how he had met Elvis in Hawaii; swam with the polar bears in Antartica and our favorite, how he drove his rental car from Europe to South Africa.
Special thanks to the Alzheimer’s Society of Victoria, Pathways and extra special thanks to Maureen, Robin, Tereza, Lorriane and the staff at the Kiwanis Pavilion. Also to my family, to the Tarts, and Janice for all their support.
A Memorial Service will take place on January 19, 2013 at 2:00pm at McCall Bros. Floral Chapel, 1400 Vancouver St., Victoria, BC, (250) 385-4465 with a reception to follow.
Online condolences may be offered through www.mccallbros.com.
Donations can be made to any of the following charities in Tony Lobbezoo’s honour.
Children’s Wish Foundation
#119- 4240 Manor Street
Burnaby, BC, V5G 1B2
604-299-2241
http://www.childrenswish.ca/en-bc/donate
Alzheimer Society of BC
#202 – 306 Burnside Road West
Victoria, BC, V8Z 1M1
250-382-2052
Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion Foundation
3034 Cedar Hill Road
Victoria, BC Canada V8T 3J3
Tel: (250) 598-2022
Fax: (250) 598-0023
https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx?cookieCheck=true
21 Responses
Cindy
I have the most amazing cherished memories of my time spent with Tony at Pathways. He was like the younger kid brother I never had, with a mischievious grin and an infectious enthusiasm for whatever activity we were engaged in. His stories were as colorful as his amazing photography. He loved you so very much and I feel priviledged to have had the opportunity to see your unconditional deep unabiding love for each other in practice–your strength through this tough journey has been an inspiration to me to be a better person and a better partner and Tony’s life reminds me to live in the now as you can’t predict what the future holds.
Know that you’re in my thoughts.
Respectfully and with love,
kate thwaites
Dearest Cindy and family our deepest sympathy to you ,we pray you will find comfort knowing Tony is sleeping in peace.Some men leave their mark on the world by the difference they make in the lives they touch.So good to have the opportunity to know Tony. Take care Cindy.
Maureen
Cindy,
I never met Tony, but I loved the wonderful stories you and Bev had to tell about him. He sounded like a remarkable man and a very special person. I am so sorry for your loss.
I know he will be deeply missed. Sending you heartfelt condolences.
Sincerely
Heidi Hay
Cindy,
Our deepest condolences to you. We’ll be thinking of you tomorrow, and sending you all our love and support.
Be strong, you are not alone.
Love Alison, Jerome, Mikayla & Ashlin
xoxoxo
Hi Cindy,
My deepest sympathies, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so fortunate to have visited when I did, I will always remember watching the videos of you and Tony and going with you to give Tony his Easter basket.
Love Adeline
Hi Cindy….
I haven’t known you & Tony for long. But being at Kiwanis & sharing similar experiences makes for quick bonding. I have loved watching you & Tony together….it was easy to see that you had something special. And I have admired how you were such a strong advocate for him. I already miss seeing both of you around the place. Your memories & your friends will always be there for you.
Love & hugs, Barb
Hi Cindy:
Victor and I had so many good times with you and Tony. We have very fond memories of the Veuve Clicquot Halloween Party in 1999 at the Five Sails Restaurant, where we all dressed as vampires and had such great laughs!
We are really going to miss Tony and his sense of humour and his kindness. He was truly a man of character and integrity.
You and Tony were fortunate to have found each other and to have shared so many years together. You have many wonderful memories to cherish.
Our sincerest condolences on your loss,
Love, Wonita & Victor
Dear Cindy,
I know that Tony was love of your life. I am truly sorry you have to live without him now. Thinking of you and wishing you strength.
Willeke v.l.t.
Dear Cindy,
We always felt blessed that we were able to know both you and Tony. I remember the day Graham came home and announced he had hired a female tech and I said,” It’s about time”. It didn’t take long for that special bond of friendship to happen and we started to enjoy both you and Tony’s company beyond work.
We shared many laughs and stories of all the travel adventures you two went on.
Tony always had an interesting insight on life and made us feel so comfortable in his presence. Day one was as if we had known him for years.
His memory will be carried on in the legacies of friendship he left behind.
Our deepst sympathy for your loss,
Love Monica & Graham
Dear Cindy,
Our love and thoughts are with you. Wrap yourself with memories and remember all that you and Tony shared. He was a very special man and he deserved, and received, the love of a very special partner. We wish you much strength.
Evan and Audra and family