William Brouwer, 84, passed away from congestive heart failure on Wednesday evening, March 31, at Manteca Care & Rehab. Bill was a builder and a grower. He served for 3 years in the U.S. Army at the end of WWII; his duty took him to Japan in the Military Police. Bill moved to Ripon fromColorado after his Army service, where he married Anna Zwakenberg and raised his family. He was a carpenter by trade, building cabinets and then later heavy construction. Bill’s roots were farming and from bare ground developed a productive almond orchard.  In his later years his gardens were his passion, raising roses, orchards and vegetables that he shared with many.

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years Anna; children, Beverly Ensley of Manteca and Bruce Brouwer of Lancaster; grandchildren Danelle Ariaz of Manteca, Amy Brouwer of Lancaster and Brad Clark of San Jose; great-grandchild Anna Page; and his siblings James Brouwer of Modesto, Agnas Brouwer of Ripon and Andrew Brouwer of Ripon.

Funeral service will be on Thursday, April 8, at 10 a.m. at Deegan Ripon Memorial Chapel, with burial following at Ripon Cemetery. Visitation will be the same day from 8:30 to 10 a.m. There is an on-line guest book available at www.deeganfuneralchapels.com.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, April 6, 2010