Albert Vandenakker

Albert Vandenakker or ‘Van’ as he was known to all his fellow firefighters, was a very proud member of the Hamilton Fire Department for over 31 years.

Al was a true leader and was proud of the fact that with a grade 10 education he was able to advance up the ‘ladder’ to District Chief of Hamilton. He attended the Fire fighter College in Gravenhurst many times and found it very rewarding.

He had a huge sense of humour, loved a good joke and his laugh was contagious. As his children, he always had a joke to tell us after he had worked a shift. Al was very involved with his church during his time on the department and once retired he travelled throughout the USA and Europe with Jane, his wife and best friend. They celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary just before Al was diagnosed with a work-related cancer and he passed away 3 months later.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters, a son-in-law, five grandchildren (who he took great pride in) and seven great-grandchildren who all came along after he passed. He would have been a great, great-grandfather! His huge laugh and his huge personality will continue to be missed by his family and his fellow Hamilton firefighters. Our memories of him will never fade and his legacy will continue on with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren!