Walter Land

Walter Land, of Lacombe, passed away on December 18, 2025 at the age of 85.

Born on March 11, 1940 in Harkema Opeinde, Friesland months before the German invasion of the Netherlands, Walter’s early years and later outlook on life were profoundly shaped by living in a war zone as an infant whose parents were active in the Dutch underground. As a child he saw violence and death and the extreme courage of his parents and others willing to sacrifice their lives to save others. This shaped his outlook as someone always willing to take risks to help others, and his deep compassion and desire to support people displaced by war and tragic circumstances (such as the many refugee families and the women in the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter that he and Ella assisted over the years).

Walter was a mechanic by trade, an oil painter artist by passion, and a harmonica-playing cowboy at heart. On their beloved acreage north of Lacombe, Walter planted thousands of trees turning  rolling prairie into a lush parkland that became a haven for many creatures big and small, from moose and deer to his arch-nemesis the squirrels.

In his automotive businesses Walter made many life long friends. He connected best with “the kleine lieden” (or little guys) who, like himself, were in some way outsiders, rebels, or misfits.

Walter is survived by: his wife of 61 years, Ella Plantinga Land; his children Lorraine Land (John Bird), Daniel (friend Geniene Elder), Philip (Tina), Wilner, and Lennic; his grandchildren Stefan, Arielle, Kayla, Josiah, Cheyenne, Branden, Hailey and Asher Land; step grandchildren Matthew, Thomas and Peter Bird; ten great grandchildren and step-great grandchildren; his siblings Anna Rodger, Peter (Renita), Jenny (Casey) Rietveld, William (Joan), Winston (Tannis), Alice Cantin, Gerben (Megan), brother-in-law Gary Brouwer, sister-in-law Regina Zaaijer, and all their families.

Walter was pre deceased by his parents Gerben Land and Roelefke Algra Land Weening; brothers Albert, Clarence and Henry; and sister Sylvia Brouwer.

The funeral service was held at 1:00 pm on Monday, December 29, 2025 at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, 5705-51 Ave., Lacombe AB.

To view the streaming of the service please use to following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCDamHKCyBk

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank https://foodgrainsbank.ca/ or World Renew Canada https://worldrenew.ca

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Walter Land, please visit our floral store.