Obituary of André VISSCHER

October 8, 1953 - Meppel, The Netherlands                          
April 10, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

André Visscher, beloved husband of Louise Visscher (née Bolduc) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at the age of 67 years. 
 
André was born in Meppel, Drenthe (The Netherlands) on October 8, 1953. He was the second child and first son of Willem Hendrik Visscher and Elizabeth Visscher-van der Helm. The family moved to Drachten, Friesland (The Netherlands) when André was 12. 
  
André completed his undergraduate degree in the Netherlands in 1975, and continued with post-graduate work at the University of Guelph, Ontario. 
  
André immigrated to Canada on July 1, 1975 to marry his fiancée, Louise. They were married August 23, 1975 in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  They moved to Alberta in 1982, where André worked for Alberta Agriculture for almost 10 years. 
 
From 1992-1994, he volunteered as President of the Calgary Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, organizing for the first two homes built in Calgary. He was also involved, for several years throughout the 90s, in the early stages of the Cursillo movement with the Presbyterian Church in Alberta.  Through the years, he worked in his own businesses with his partners:  Terence Barg, Ray Chan, and Egon Skovmose.  At the time of his death, he was the Regional Representative for Alberta and British Columbia for the Canadian Food Grains Bank, and volunteered as the Refugee Ministry Coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of Calgary.  
  
André loved to travel:  Russia, Algeria, Ethiopia, China, Peru, Australia, Suez and Panama Canals, and Alaska to name a few places he had visited.  In more recent years, cruising had become his preferred way to see new places, and he and Louise enjoyed multiple voyages together.  André’s most memorable vacation was when he, his wife, and his children took a Christmas cruise along the western coast of Mexico. 
  
Although André was passionate about the work he did, calling it a “practical witness for Christ”, above all else he was a loving husband, father, opa, brother, and friend.  He was always looking to help, and working to make the world a better place.  
 
In addition to his wife of forty-five years, André is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jared and Lise Visscher; two daughters and a son-in-law, Marlies (Catherine) and Adrien Richard, and Kristen Visscher and her fiancé Bailey Neufeld; and four grandchildren, Hudson, Emma and Allie Visscher, and Mira Richard, all of Calgary. He is also survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Gea and Andries Middelbos; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Wim and Marjan Visscher, and Hajo Visscher and Joke Koskamp; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of The Netherlands.  
  
André was predeceased by his father (1974), his mother (2018), and his son, Jonathan, (1982). 
 
A Private Funeral Service will be held on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of André Visscher, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.