Person:Franciscus Bertens (1)

BERTENS, Frank - Peacefully, at University Hospital in London on Friday, July 26th, Franciscus Adrianus Wilhelmus Bertens at the age of 83. Beloved husband of Rieka (de Kort) for almost 60 years. Cherished father of Mary and Greg McNeil, Harriet and Bill Potters, Judy Ann and Jeff Sadler, Linda and Steve Delany, Pauline and Joseph VanDerVelden, Richard and Carolynn Bertens, Robert and Melanie Bertens, Irene and Paul Johnson. Predeceased by sons Andrew (1954) and Edward (1983). Dear Opa to Lindsay (Chris Tansey), Michael, Mark, Meghan, Carly (Klaus Werner), Denby, Emily, Trent, Amber, Cole, Grace, Claire, Courtney, William, Matthew, Amanda, Sara and Marie. Great Opa of Hailey and Hannah. Little brother of Piet (late Jo de Kort) and Wim of The Netherlands and Gerry (Annie de Kort) and Anne (late Ad de Kort) in Canada. Predeceased by siblings Lies (late Willem van Laak), Miet (late Janus van Esch), Jan, and Jos (Tiny de Kort) of The Netherlands. Loving brother-in-law of John and Lucy (de Kort) Van Haaren and Louis de Kort (late Mary) in Canada, and Annie de Kort (late Jan), Leo and Zus (de Kort) van Kasteren, Piet and Nel de Kort, and Rien and Ria de Kort in the Netherlands. Frank also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, and close friends. Frank was born on September 20, 1929 in Enschot, The Netherlands, the youngest of a family of nine. In 1952 Frank immigrated to Canada to find a future in farming and returned to The Netherlands to marry the love of his life in 1954 as part of the famous "Six Couples" wedding. Frank was a proud Canadian farmer for over 45 years, mostly at Spruce Lane Farm in Westminster Township. He and Rieka retired to a beautiful home on Westminster Drive in 1996. Frank was a loving Father and Opa to eight children, eighteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He had many hobbies that he enjoyed particularly gardening, playing cards, raising pigeons, photography, and the latest high-tech gadgets. We will never forget his enchanting smile. The family will receive relatives and friends at the JOHN T. DONOHUE FUNERAL HOME, 362 Waterloo Street, London, on Monday, July 29th from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 30th at 11 a.m. at St. Justin's Parish, 855 Jalna Blvd., London; celebrated by Father Dan Vere. Following the Funeral Mass, a reception will be held at St. Justin's Parish Hall, after which interment will take place at St. Peter's Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Ed Bertens Memorial Award at University of Guelph/Ridgetown Campus or the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Frank Bertens, a member of the famed Dutch Dozen wedding clan, has died at the age of 83.
The retired farmer led a happy, productive life, but his claim to fame occurred in 1954 when he and his wife Rieka took part in a mass wedding that was a sensation in the Netherlands.
In a packed church, five daughters and one son of the de Kort family married four brothers and one sister of the Bertens family and a family friend, John Van Haaren.
Thousands of curious onlookers showed up for the three-day wedding captured in newsreels and big newspaper spreads.
The multiple romances would be hard to imagine in today’s mobile world but the de Korts and Bertens were neighbouring farm families in an era when bicycles were the main mode of transportation.
Frank Bertens was born in the town of Enschot in 1929, the youngest of nine children.
After military service in Indonesia, Bertens and his friend Van Haaren immigrated to Canada, working on a vegetable farm near Grand Bend in the early 1950s.
The two friends helped spur the big wedding. They were so impressed with Canada they decided to come back to the Netherlands, marry their sweethearts and return to Canada in time for planting season.
The other couples joined in and plans for the mass wedding were made right down to the identical white wedding gowns and bouquets.
Frank and Rieka were soon back in Canada along with three of the other five couples who also decided to emigrate.
Frank and Rieka spent the next 45 years farming in Westminster Twp. and raising eight children. In 1996, they retired to a home on Westminster Dr.
Bertens enjoyed gardening, photography, raising pigeons, tinkering with high-tech gadgets and visiting with his 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Bertens died Friday at University Hospital. A funeral was held Tuesday at St. Justin’s Parish in London.

Frank Bertens
Birth: 1929
Death: 2013
Burial: Saint Peter's Cemetery; London, Ontario, Canada
Plot: Section T; Row H - West; Lot 28 Grave 7