Casper Adrianus Van de Wetering passed into the presence of the Lord on December 27, 2016 at the age of 88. He was born in Rotterdam, Holland on December 1, 1928, the third of five children. In his youth he lived in Rotterdam and as a young teenager went through harsh times as their family experienced the reality of WWII. After the war ended, he left Holland at age 17 to serve his country in Indonesia for three years. Upon returning, he married Leny on May 14, 1952 and 10 days later they sailed to Canada to begin a new life. They settled in Abbotsford, BC, where they had a family member, and met many other Dutch families that came after the war to seek work.
It was during one of his first jobs working for a dairy farmer in Chilliwack that he met some dear friends who shared the gospel with him. He accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior shortly after, was baptized, and came into the fellowship of the assembly in Abbotsford.
After varied work experience, while farming in Langley, BC, Cap his interest in sharing the gospel with children began. He started children’s meetings at the Ferndale Hall and there, many children came to know the Lord. Later, he had the privilege of having a portable building on his farm where he continued his children’s work.
He later farmed in Sumas Prairie, but found it was not his heart’s desire. After spending five years in the construction field, building many homes in the Abbotsford and Chilliwack area, his passion to share the gospel in his home country became very strong. In 1974, upon being commended to the Lord’s work, Cap and Leny returned to their homeland with the three youngest of their six children.
They remained in Holland for 11 years, during which he preached the gospel, not only there, but in Belgium and the British Isles. Preaching the gospel and working with the assemblies there brought him great joy. They returned to Canada 35 years later, settling first in Squamish, and later in the Chilliwack and Abbotsford areas. He continued to serve the Lord throughout BC, the Prairies, Washington, Oregon and California. Cap, with his wife Leny, experienced a full life serving the Lord and His people.
Our brother’s passion for God’s assembly and zeal for the gospel will be greatly missed in the areas where he labored. Leny expressed it well when she said that he was “altogether worn out.” He leaves to mourn, his loving wife, all six children and their spouses, 22 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Their children are forever grateful for the heritage their parents left them.
Gaius Goff and David Richards shared in the funeral service with words of comfort and presentation of the gospel, with Bert Van de Wetering, Cap’s son, speaking on behalf of the family.
