January 22, 1949 – April 20, 2018
at the age of 69 years.
The service is to be held Sunday, April 29, 2 pm at the Gathering Place, 350 30 St NE, Salmon Arm, BC
We sadly announce the passing of Marty Bootsma after a short battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife Wendy and his seven siblings; Walter, Florence, Frances, Jenny, Greta, Ron, and Jan. As well as his children and stepchildren; Roger (Kim), Grace (Gord), Jon (Christine), Curtis (Michelle) and Emily (Justin) and grandchildren; Harley, Jaron, Kierra, Nikki, Josie, Riley, Rachel and Joy. He is predeceased by his first wife Margaret and his great granddaughter Hallie.
Marty was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to Vancouver, Canada with his parents at a very young age. He met Margaret in Vancouver and they were married in 1971 and had their 3 children by 1973. After spending holidays in Salmon Arm the busy couple decided to make it their home in 1980. During his time in Salmon Arm Marty pursued careers as a carpenter and real estate agent and, as many may remember, owner of Bootsma’s Bakery. Most recently Marty was the owner and operator of the Petro Car Wash with his good friend Warren. Marty lost his wife Margaret to cancer in the Spring of 1999. These were difficult years but Marty has remained an involved member of the community. He was a volunteer firefighter, Rotarian, and city council member, to name a few. However, his biggest accomplishment and contributions to Salmon Arm were during his 2 terms as Mayor. Regardless of the politics involved Marty always voted with Salmon Arm’s best interest at heart. Marty met his second wife Wendy and they continued to live in Salmon Arm with the company of friends and family.
Marty loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren whether it was at home, the cabin, camping trips or holidays. He enjoyed people and was quick witted. Marty was frequently seen around town or at his early morning coffee club. He also thoroughly enjoyed singing with the Shuswap Barber Shop Project. Marty had a huge sense of adventure and quite the ability to form and articulate an opinion on almost everything.
In lieu of flowers, a bursary has been set up for graduates for Salmon Arm Senior Secondary at the Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union (uptown), Account #1696517.
My deepest condolences to the Bootsma family. Keep the good memories in your heart. Love and peace to you all.
My deepest condolences to all Marty’s family…. he was a fine man, and will be missed by so many. I will always remember him fondly for his great sense of humour. May he rest in peace.
Our deepest condolences to all of Marty’s family.
He will be deeply missed.
Lelaine,Taigan and Levyn
It is difficult to believe that Marty, an exceptionally good family friend, has left us. We first met Marty and his family, when we and our four children purchased a home next to the Bootsmas’ in January of 1981, and our families became fast friends from those days onward. We felt fortunate to get to know Marty’s siblings and many of their families as well, over the years. They are a very close knit family, who are very supportive of one another, which I know will help in a great way in dealing with their loss.
We always enjoyed Marty’s quick masterful wit, and excellent and lively sense of humour. He was a person who was never shy about delivering his point of view on any subject, often in a humourous fashion, and if you disagreed with him, he never took it personally. I believe if you agreed with Marty all the time, he would feel that one person was doing all the thinking.
Marty loved to travel and saw much of the world during his lifetime, and we have very fond memories of travelling together, to Mexico, the continental US, Hawaii, as well as many other trips within BC and the Yukon. We always celebrated our children’s weddings together, with Marty and Wendy travelling as far as Ireland in 2005 for the wedding of our daughter, Jill. Our Christmas gatherings were always a great fun time usually including a sleigh ride at our place.
We will miss Marty as part of our family, but will take comfort in having the close bond with his children, spouse, grandchildren and siblings, and be supportive in their difficult loss of a husband, father, Opa and brother.
Rest in Peace Marty, we will miss you in so many ways, but especially as a truly all around great reliable friend.
Daryl & Elaine Koskimaki and Family
I was saddened to here the news this morning on the radio of Marty’s passing. I worked for 3 years for him and Margaret at Bootsma’s Bakery and enjoyed many a good party with them both. Always full of life, I am sure he is going to be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.
My good friend Marty I will miss you dearly two many laughs and beers in Burcias Mexico this past year sorry I can’t make it don’t fly home until Saturday the 28th all my love to your great family Jeff will be there adios my amigo
Gerry Gerrard