Dirk Leegwater

[Les Fisher]

Today is Dirk’s funeral service perhaps even now as I writes this. Dirk was an easy friend! Even though I did not see him often we just took up our friendship like the last time we saw each other was only last week. When actually it may have been 3 or 4 years. I met Dirk somewhere in the mid 1990s when Barry Churcher and Brian Gough brought him to visit me while Dirk was in Canada on a holiday. That was the start of what became many years of friendship. One time we traveled together to Pennsylvania to one of the biggest car shows in the USA. We stopped off at a gun store in PA where we rented hand guns by the 1/2 hour. It seemed very unusual until we discovered they had a three bay gun range. Equally unusual was a pet deer named Daisy that would wonder through the store. After Dirk shot a handgun for the first time we closing out the visit by feeding Daisy then back on our way to the car show. Dirk had a lot of fun buying every military looking old horn he could find. He filled the back of the van with horns and other goodies that he was so happy to buy.
That and many other fond memories will be with me always .
The hobby has lost one of our strongest supporters. Dirk was a member of the OMVA for a very long time!
On behalf of the OMVA, my condolences to Stefan and his family for their loss.
I would also like to wish Barry and Brian a safe trip back to Canada after the service. What a testimony to your friendship to be able to attend!

[Frank Spiering]

Dear Stefan,

My condolances to you and your family, and strength in these hard times...

Frank

[Bob Carriere]

My most sincere condolences on the passing of your father.

I have fond memories of the times I met Dirk, such a gentlemen.

He has contributed so very much to our hobby and will be sadly missed by all of us.

Glad that you have picked up the flag and are carrying on the business.

Bob C.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Last Monday Dirk was brought to his last resting place. The church was packed with family, friends and people from the local community. Barry & Brian, Dirk’s best friends from Canada came over to pay their last respects. A sizeable representation of Keep Them Rolling was present as well.

Alex and I brought funeral flowers on behalf of the friends and members of Maple Leaf Up Forum.

After the service Dirk went on his last ride in Stefan's recently restored C8A HUP. Stefan drove the HUP to Dirk's last resting place at the local church.

As a memory of happier times, I am sharing the picture which was made in June 2004 at Arromaches beach, Normandy, France. I think it is symbolic for Dirk as it combines his work and hobby in one. Dirk spent a large part of his working life cleaning the beaches of North Holland. His hobby was all centered around Canadian military vehicles and the friends he made though this hobby. He and Stefan had recently restored the C15TA and it was on it's first outing abroad. Years later Barry Churcher traded a number of project vehicles against Dirk's C15TA, so his truck now lives in Canada where he loved to be.

From left to right: Hanno Spoelstra, Shawn Winnington-Ball, Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP), Dirk Leegwater (RIP), Brian Gough, Barry Churcher, Stefan Leegwater.

2004-06_Arromanches_MLU friends.jpg