Remembering our roots ~ Raymond & Diane Van Bavel

John Godsman
Times Contributor

 

Joe and John Van Bavel, identical twins were born in Belgium in 1899, and came to Canada with their parents William and Mary Van Bavel, and the rest of the family in 1910. There were three sets of twins born into this family of nine children. Unfortunately, four children died in Belgium, so William and Mary only had five children left when they travelled to Canada with Father Van Aken’s group of immigrants, and established the District of Akenstad northeast of Strathmore in 1908. Father Aken was an agent for the C.P.R., and assisted immigrants to get established here. William worked for the C.P.R. constructing the irrigation system, and later as a second ditch rider. Digging of the irrigation system was done with a slip and team of Clydesdale horses. During the winter months the ditch riders looked after the horses. In 1917, William purchased a farm in the Elwood District 3.5 miles south of Tiedes Corner (the Rockyford Road). But, before the family could move to this farm, William suffered a stroke and passed away in the Strathmore Hotel at the age of 45. Mary and her five children Annie, Joe, John, Jack and Kathleen, eventually moved to the farm, where the boys did the farming. Mary passed away in 1940.
Elizabeth Koester, born in Iowa in 1911,moved to Rockyford with her family in 1929, and married Joe Van Bavel (Raymond’s father) at St Rita’s Church in Rockyford in June 1932. They lived on the Pete Flem farm in the Elwood district, where Joe and his twin brother John worked the farm as partners for 10 years. During the depression, they were hailed out, dried out, and the dust storms were terrible, but they survived. In the fall of 1945, they moved to the O. Swanson Farm in the Akenstad District, which was owned by Joe’s sister Annie Verwiere, and farmed there until 1952, when they purchased a farm of their own, four miles north and four miles east of Strathmore.
Raymond was born on Oct, 6,1944, the fifth of six children. He was premature, and it was at least two weeks before his father knew he had another son! Raymond took all his education in Strathmore, graduating from Samuel Crowther in 1962. He excelled at school sports, and was a champion table tennis player. He also played basketball, football and volleyball. In the summer months, he helped his father Joe, a cousin Jim Van Bavel, and neighbour Stan Christie, but spent the winter months working at the Superior Feed and Supply feedmill in Strathmore. Joe and Liz retired and moved to Strathmore in 1968. Joe passed away from cancer in 1972, and Liz passed away from Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 1984. She had been very active in CWL and the Happy Gang.
Diane’s family originated in southeast Alberta, where grandfather ‘Sturm’ on her mother’s side, was born in Irvine, Alta. in 1890. Her grandmother was born in Odessa, Russia in 1889 and moved to Canada in 1906. They were married in 1914, had three children, and their youngest daughter was Diane’s mother Tillie. On her father’s side, grandfather Christian Schlaht was born in Neudorf, Russia in 1886, and grandmother Emilie Fey was born in Russia in 1888. They were married in 1906 and had ten children. Diane’s father Jack Schlaht was the third youngest of the 10 children, and was born at Burstall, Sask. in 1919.
Diane was born in Empress, Alta. on May 2, 1946, the oldest of three children. Their farm was at Bindloss, but she was born at Empress, because that was the closest hospital. She took all her education through Grade 11 at Bindloss, but had to move to Medicine Hat for Grade 12. She then trained at Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary, to become a Registered Medical Laboratory Technologist, and worked at the Medicine Hat Hospital and a Private Clinic, before moving back to Holy Cross Hospital, until her marriage.
Raymond and Diane met at a Christmas Party in 1966, and were married on Oct. 5, 1968. The reception and dance were held in the Strathmore Legion Memorial Hall. Earlier that year, Raymond took over his father’s farm, which at the time was a mixed farm with cattle and hay. In 1982, it became a grain and hay farm only.
Diane continued working at the Holy Cross, until their family started arriving. Troy, born Nov. 17, 1969, is a school teacher in California, married to Dawn with two children. David, born May 24, 1971, is a plant operator for Encana at Carbon, married to Heather with two children. Joseph, born March 31, 1977, in the middle of calving time, now operates the family farm, married to Patti, with three children.
Raymond played in a Flag Football League in the 1970’s, and is an avid Calgary Stampeder fan, having held season tickets since 1966.
His community activities include serving on the Town & County Recreation Board, being a delegate then director of United Farmers of Alberta, a member and past Grand Knight (twice) of Knights of Columbus, a member of Branch #10 Strathmore Legion, and a volunteer at Strathmore Heritage Days.
Diane is a staunch member of CWL and Pastoral Care. She advised she enjoys working outdoors, and is very efficient in operating a tractor and baler. She also enjoys riding, and volunteers with Alberta Health Sciences at Strathmore Hospital, and recently received a Volunteer Recognition Certificate from The Ag Society.
Changes they have seen in the past 47 years are mainly the population growth, and the demise of small farms.