Paul Vander Kaa

The Paul Vander Kaa ((1866-04-06)6 April 1866 – 27 February 1943(1943-02-27) (aged 76)) was a machinist in Fort William who, with his wife Mary A. Vander Kaa, was an early resident of the city. He was also involved in the early local parks movement.

Early life

Vander Kaa was born on 6 April 1866 in Kediri, in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia). The surname Vander Kaa, also written van der Kaa, is of Dutch origin.

Career

Vander Kaa worked as a machinist for the Canadian Pacific Railway in Fort William. He was also active in the early local parks movement in the Thunder Bay area. Notice of his retirement from the CPR was published in the Fort William Daily Times-Journal on 2 March 1936.

Residence

In 1906 Vander Kaa had a brick home built in Fort William, where he and his wife Mary A. Vander Kaa lived for many decades. The house survives and remains in use as a residence.

A later owner of the home, researching its early history, described its surviving historic features:

From archival records, the home was built in 1906 for Paul Vander Kaa (1866–1943), a local machinist, and his wife Mary A. Vander Kaa (1874–1961). There is some clear scarring on the exterior brickwork that implies the porch used to have a completely different layout, even though old fire insurance maps show the same footprint. Since Paul was involved in the early local parks movement, original garden layout features or plantings he likely added may be visible in old family photos.

— A current owner of the house, 2025

Personal life

On 24 December 1900, Vander Kaa married Mary Amelia Beyer at St. Luke's Church in Fort William. She is the same person recorded elsewhere as his wife Mary Amelia Vander Kaa (1874–1961). The couple lived in the Fort William area for several decades.

Family and descendants

Vander Kaa and his wife Mary Amelia had at least two children, through whom his descendants include:

• William Stavers van der Kaa (1901–1967), born in Fort William on 30 September 1901; he married Mary Harper McMillen in 1927.
• Marie Josephine Crabbe (1907–1987), born in Fort William; on 23 November 1931 she married Matthew Crabbe (1908–1961), the marriage being announced in the Fort William Daily Times-Journal the following day.
  • Mary Pauline Crabbe (1932–2011), recorded later simply as Pauline; she married Clifford Freamo and became a registered nurse and St. John Ambulance volunteer.
    • Fred (1957–2025), a welder at Can-Car (Bombardier).
    • Jolynn, who married Dave Chunick.
    • Bonnie (died between 2011 and 2025), who married a man named Bob.
    • Virginia "Ginny" Merritt, who married Bradley Merritt.
  • Constance "Connie" Helen Crabbe (1938–2021), a Fort William businesswoman; she married Gary Sambray Sr.
    • Gary Sambray Jr., who married Bonnie.
    • Mark Sambray, who married Patricia.
  • Maxine Martha Crabbe (1937–2020), born on 27 February 1937; she married Leonard Gilbert Otway in 1957 and later moved to Prince George, British Columbia, where she died.
    • Glen David Otway (born 1958).
  • Edith Mae "Edie" Crabbe (1933/1934–2022), who married Ted Jenkins.

The Fort William Daily Times-Journal had recorded the birth of a daughter to Matthew Crabbe and Marie Josephine on 27 February 1937; this was Maxine.

Through her sons, Constance had a further seven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

Death

Vander Kaa died on 27 February 1943 and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Thunder Bay.