Marinus Willem Bakker

Marinus Willem Bakker passed away peacefully on August 2, 2025 at Southbridge Care Home in Goderich at the age of 82.

Marinus Bakker will be sadly missed by his wife of 53 years Margaret Bakker of Auburn. They raised an amazing family and together they built their family farm. Loving father of Karen (predeceased – June 2025) and Michael Stephens of Caledonia, Ruth Anne and Michael Brown of Ajax, and Michael and Courtney Bakker of Clarkson. Cherished grandfather to Neale and Connor Stephens, Mikayla and Travis Brown, and Reid and Morgan Bakker. He was a brother to Aantje and Tom Robinson, brother in law to Barb Bakker, Helen and Fred Gnuechtel, Janet and Ray Beldmen, as well as being an uncle to many nieces and nephews.

He will be welcomed to his heavenly home by his daughter Karen Bakker-Stephens, parents Rimmer and Gerritje Bakker, brother Teade Bakker, sister Eefje MacLean, nephew Steve MacLean and parents in law Albert and Gerda Postma.

In 1950, the Bakker family immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands. Marinus was a young boy of 7 with no English skills and attended the neighbourhood one room school. At the age of 9, his father tragically and suddenly passed away due to an accident leaving his Mother and four children under 12 to work the family farm. He had to grow up quickly and learned about drought and rain, feast and famine. He experienced the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, and the challenges that farming brings.

Marinus had a love of the land, he was a life time farmer and advocate for the agriculture industry by being involved in a number of agriculture organizations. He was a member of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, was president for two years and enjoyed attending many OFA conventions in Toronto. In 2017 he was presented the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture and the Community’ award by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture. He was also the president of the Ontario White Bean Growers and was instrumental in the merger between the dry bean and coloured bean boards. While he was a member of the white bean board, he had the opportunity to travel to England on a trade mission, promoting Canadian edible beans. He was the chair of the research committee, as well as bean board representative to Farm &Food Care Ontario. After his term with the edible bean board, Marinus became a director for Huron County Grain Farmers and a member of Huron County Soil and Crop committee. Outside of agriculture, he was a Charter member of the Auburn and District Lion Club and enjoyed making and serving pancakes at their monthly breakfasts. For a number of years he was a trustee for Knox United Church in Auburn, prior to its closing.

We invite you to visit with family and friends on August 8, at Londesborough United Church from 10am to 11am. Funeral Service to commence at 11am. Internment in the Balls Cemetery, Auburn. Please join us via livestream at https://www.facebook.com/RiversideFuneralHomeInc.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Auburn and District Lions Club or Londesborough United Church would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Please send donation cheques to Box 199 Blyth N0M 1H0.

Condolences may be left at riversidefuneralhome.ca