Wilhelmus (Wim) Gysbertus Laarhoven passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 17, at the age of 90, after a long and full life.

Born in The Hague, Netherlands, to Adrianus and Johanna (née van der Doorn) Laarhoven, Wim was the middle child in a family of nine. He is predeceased by his siblings Ad, Truus, Jan, Cor, Anni, and Frans, and is lovingly remembered by his sisters Leida and Elly, who reside in the Netherlands.

Wim is survived by the love of his life, his wife of nearly 66 years, Maria (Ria) Koevoets, who stood by his side through every chapter of their journey together. He was a loving father to his four children: Robert (Cindy), Andrea (James), Luke, and Carla (Michael); a proud grandfather to Andrew (Kristin), Adam, Alex (Alyssa), Ashley (Noah), and Anna; and a joyful great-grandfather to William, Henry, Peter, and Evelyn.

In pursuit of the Canadian dream, Wim immigrated to Canada with his wife and children in 1966. He began working as a mobile catering truck driver, a role that marked the start of his entrepreneurial journey. He soon founded his own company, Guillaume Cantines, and later co-founded Le Groupe La Cantinière—a Montreal-wide food service operation that became a North American leader in the mobile catering industry throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Wim was a highly regarded man whose generous spirit—paired with a good-natured sense of humour—left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered. Having grown up in wartime Netherlands, he understood hardship from a young age, and those early experiences shaped his strong work ethic and lifelong desire to give back. He shared his success freely, supporting friends, family, and employees in achieving their goals.

His faith in God and commitment to the Church were guiding principles throughout his life. This was reflected in his active role as a warden at St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish and in his 40 years of dedicated service with the Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore Montreal, where he served as president, treasurer, supported the food bank and golf tournament, and enthusiastically sold Christmas cakes and nuts each year.

Wim will be remembered as a man who gave of himself wholeheartedly—always seeking to uplift others and make the world a better place. He will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore Montreal:  https://www.lakeshorekiwanis.ca/en/donate