A legacy of wisdom
In loving memory of Dick Kronemeyer.
Dick (Dirk) Kronemeyer was born on Easter Sunday, 1933, in Haulerwijk, Friesland, The Netherlands, the third of 12 children. He emigrated to Canada in 1953, where he settled with his wife Connie and their six children. Dick owned and operated a successful logging business and loved volunteering and serving on church council, school boards, soup kitchens and more.
My father, Dick Kronemeyer, passed away on December 30, 2024. At his Celebration of Life service on January 4 in Smithers, B.C., we reflected on his life of faithfulness. He is remembered by many for his Christian commitment, leadership, generosity and a refreshingly wise perspective on life. As his youngest child, I was privileged to have lots of time and deep conversations with him. Following are some lessons on wise living that I shared at his memorial and hope to carry on as his legacy.
Never stop being curious
My Dad was very smart (he skipped two grades in school growing up in the Netherlands!), but he always wanted to know more. His pursuit of knowledge was almost unquenchable. If a question arose he was always the first to say “let’s look that up!” – in his beloved encyclopedia set. He loved learning and exploring. As a result, he could have conversations about just about anything, which is one of the reasons he got along so well with everyone. True wisdom means knowing that you don’t know it all, there’s always more to discover, and learning is fun.
Keep an open mind
Although my Dad seemed somewhat conservative (I recall getting in a LOT of trouble for going out for coffee with my friends op Zondag (on Sunday)!) he actually had some surprisingly unconventional ideas and beliefs. A former pastor and mentor of his labelled him “a progressive in conservative clothing.” I remember him wrestling with concepts of a young earth and the literal translation of Genesis. This was revolutionary and unpopular among his peers, but it didn’t stop him from discussing his ponderings with his 16-year-old daughter. This made quite the impression on me about having a humble and receptive faith, and never assuming that what we believe about God is the only truth about Him. True wisdom is an unshakeable faith in God along with the knowledge that God is much bigger than our limited understanding of who he is.
People are always worth your time
Our Dad was notoriously social. This was sometimes annoying – being the last car to leave the church parking lot every Sunday is just one example. But the underlying message was clear – Dad valued people SO MUCH. All people. He was genuinely interested in anyone’s story – strangers, employees, neighbours, friends. Both my Mom and Dad were amazing examples of hospitality – always welcoming people to their home. When they traveled to visit us, our children were invited to their camper for breakfast every morning – orange juice, Dutch cheese and toast. This is a treasured memory. True wisdom is viewing all people as valuable and made in God’s image, and knowing God created us to live in community with one another.
Don’t procrastinate!
Ok, some lessons are still being learned. Dad believed in getting things done early, especially chores, but not just the practical things. In the mornings I would come downstairs to find Dad already reading his Bible well before any of us were even awake. He tried often to instill in me the importance of getting up early and starting my day with devotions. I’ll admit this habit is still not easy for me, but I appreciate the lesson that true wisdom is realizing time is a gift and it’s important to use it wisely, not just for productivity, but for being in the presence of God.
Be committed
Dad didn’t believe in quitting. When I was considering leaving the church as a young adult because of some disillusionment, he told me leaving wouldn’t make it better – for me or for the church, and that if I wanted to see improvement it had to start with me. This has stuck with me. When my husband asked if he could propose to me, Dad said “yes, you can, but you may not give her back!” Dad was committed – to his God, his church, his family, and especially to our Mom. Dad’s commitment was poignantly evident in the last years as he cared for Mom with such patience and self-lessness. True wisdom is understanding that commitment involves giving of yourself for the betterment of everyone.
Enjoy the beautiful things
Dad thoroughly enjoyed classical music, good books, fine art, flower and vegetable gardens, carefully crafted woodwork projects, excellent food. Handel’s Messiah was one of his favourites, especially the song “I Know that My Redeemer Lives.” At Dad’s request, we used these words from Job 19 for the service. Dad delighted in sharing good things with others. He was generous with his time, money and gifts. He loved to cook new recipes, he built beautiful hope chests for his granddaughters, and found any excuse to take people out for good dinners where he could enjoy his favourite – prime rib. True wisdom is finding delight in God’s creation and sharing that delight with others.
We will miss our Dad, but we rejoice to think of him fully healthy, communing and exploring with his Saviour in heaven. I look forward to hearing about all the newfound wisdom he is learning!
