DeBRUYN, Martin Peter

Peacefully, at Georgetown Hospital, following a courageous battle with cancer, Martin succumbed to heart failure at the age of 86. Martin is survived by the love of his life, soul mate, partner, best friend, and wife, Angie (Eckerich), and his sons, Jeffrey (Denise Dilbey) and Trevor. He is predeceased by his infant son, Mark (1967); his parents, Chris (1985) and Martha [Verschuren] (2015); and two siblings. Martin is also survived by 15 siblings and a large extended family of cousins, nephews, and nieces scattered throughout Canada, New Zealand, the United States, and the Netherlands. Martin was just 10 years old when his large family immigrated from the Netherlands to Canada in 1950, where they settled and began a new life. From an early age, Martin dreamed of becoming a farmer. He spent his younger years working on and helping at neighbouring farms, developing a deep appreciation for the land and farming life. His dream became a reality in 1974 when he purchased the family farm on the 3rd Line of Erin from his father-in-law. Martin was deeply devoted to the land and took tremendous pride in his work. He embraced the responsibility of being a careful steward of the land, a commitment that remained an important part of his life and legacy. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 13, at Jones Funeral Home https://jonesfuneralhome.ca. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice in Martin’s memory.