We Remember

KUYPER, Hugo Cornelis

June 19, 1941 — August 23, 2025

Hugo Cornelis Kuyper was born in Rotterdam, Holland, on 19 June 1941, and his long journey came to its earthly end on 23 August 2025, in Kelowna, British Columbia, at the age of 84.

He leaves behind his beloved Emma, “Emmy,” his wife and companion of sixty-one years; their daughters Jacqueline (Glen) and Ingrid (Les); grandchildren Meagan and Brittany (Doug); and great-grandchildren Weston, Sydney, Lincoln, and Theo. He was predeceased by his parents, Cornelis and Auguste Kuijper, and by his two sisters.

Hugo’s life was, in the truest sense, a voyage. Trained as a marine engineer, he set his course early with a mind that understood the intricacies of machines and a love for the deep waters. Through family ties, he met Emmy in Holland, and in short order (only a year and a half later) they were married and setting off to Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada. There, amidst the hard work of raising two children, Hugo turned his hand to heavy-duty mechanics and even the building of homes.

A layover in Vancouver on the way home from Hawaii awakened in him a longing that never left — to be near the ocean and the gentler climate of the West Coast. By 1977, he had steered his family to Coquitlam, BC, where he worked for Labatt’s Brewery and found delight in owning a cabin cruiser, from which he could drink in the sea air he loved. Hugo had the habit (rare and generous) of turning business trips into shared holidays, never wishing to leave Emmy behind.

In later years, Hugo and Emmy became snowbirds, wintering in Palm Springs, where golf and sunshine filled their days. Cruises offered them yet more horizons, and Hugo’s love of the ocean was not mere preference but a reflection of his spirit: steady, deep, and always moving toward the wider world.

Neighbours knew him as a man who gave freely, offering help without hesitation. In all things, he preferred companionship to solitude, a life lived with others, never apart.

Eight years ago, Emmy moved to Kelowna, BC to be near family, and it was here that Hugo spent his final season, surrounded by the enduring circle of those he loved and who loved him.

Family and friends will honour Hugo, each in their own way. No formal service will be held.

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.

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