Radix, Willem

It is with great sadness that the family of Willem Johannes Radix announce his passing on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the age of 91 years. Wim will be hugely missed by his bright star, his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth van Duivenbode, his three children and their families: Ellen (late Bryan Smith); Johanna Marion (Liz Lausanne); and Jacob (Terri Haskin). He was a proud and loving Opa to: Nicolaas and Grace (Sam Johns) Smith; Dylan (Grace Grant) and Jordan (Michaela Thivierge) Radix. Wim was born August 26, 1932, in Nigtevecht, the Netherlands. He was the third of five children to Jacob Radix and Hendrika Pieneman. Willem left the Netherlands May 10, 1954, aboard the “Groote Beer”. He was convinced by his family that sheep farming was not a good choice, so he continued quarry work and tobacco picking and subsequently obtained work at Stelco in Hamilton. In early 1971, Wim/Bill left Stelco and was hired to be part of the team to develop a new steel wire rolling mill, ground-up, located in L’Orignal, Ontario. Bill was involved with the early days of the Vankleek Hill Nature Society. His first love has always been birdwatching. He was involved with the Society to preserve a small portion of the Alfred Bog and led tours to interested groups. He checked all the area sewage lagoons for regular shore and duck species, always hoping for a species that wasn’t on his life list. He could recall the location of his first sighting of every new bird species. He was proactive about the water level management of the lagoons so that nesting birds had the best opportunity for success. For many years, he, and his birding buddy, Bill Pilon, would head out early Sunday mornings to check out their feeding stations, nesting sites as well as new possibilities. Birding was never the same for him when Bill passed. This year, he was very proud to be recognized as a lifetime member of the Vankleek Hill Nature Society. Bill had an insatiable curiosity about human and animal behaviour. He witnessed the injustice and forced choices of the economically poor, the desperation of the hungry, the retaliation of the oppressed and resilience within an occupied country. He felt tremendous gratitude for the families who housed hungry children during the starving winter. He witnessed prejudice of new immigrants to Canada. He gave a wide latitude to the judgement of others. Walk a mile in another’s shoes … unless, he, in fact, is wearing someone else’s shoes by mistake! Bill had tremendous gratitude for the caring friendship of the Jay Street gang and extended family and friends. A Public Celebration of Willem’s Life will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the Vankleek Hill Curling Club, 136 Bond St, Vankleek Hill with more details and times to follow soon. A Tree of Remembrance for Willem will be planted in the McAlpine Forever Forest, Vankleek Hill. To view the full obituary please visit www.hillcrestfuneralhome.ca. Funeral arrangements in the care of Hillcrest Funeral Home Ltd., 151 Bond Street, Vankleek Hill, ON K0B 1R0 (613) 678-2002.