Antoon Kuster

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Antoon (Tony) Kuster on September 28, 2025 at the age of 95 years at Extendicare Athabasca. Tony was a very caring, hard working, intelligent and upbeat gentleman who loved dogs and people. 

Tony is survived by his brother Henk (Wil) and 4 nieces and nephews in the Netherlands, 3 nieces in Edmonton and many friends in the Athabasca and Barrhead areas. He is predeceased by his parents and a brother and sister in the Netherlands, a brother in Edmonton, and his wife Lyn of 46 years who passed away in Athabasca on July 14, 2015. 

Tony was born September 16, 1930 in Eindhoven, Netherlands and immigrated to Canada on March 30, 1954, arriving April 7, 1954 along with 850 other immigrants at Halifax NS. A 4 day train ride to Edmonton, AB followed. His final destination of Edmonton was determined by the Canadian Immigration Centre.  Speaking no English and with no money, Tony had to rely on other German and Dutch immigrants to help him find jobs. Fortunately, he was a machinist and millwright by trade and found jobs with companies such as the Edmonton Journal, Gainers Packing Plant, Canada Packers and finally TransAlta at its Sundance Power Plant. While at Canada Packers in 1957, Tony suffered serious burns as a result of a work accident and spent 3 months in the Royal Alexander hospital. Tony proudly became a Canadian citizen on January 22, 1960. He retired from TransAlta after 15 years services in 1992. At the time, he lived, worked and farmed in the Wabamun area just east of Edmonton and bought property at Baptiste Lake, west of Athabasca. He moved to Athabasca in 1996.

Tony’s passion for over 60 years was bowling, starting at the Rosslyn in 1957 and attending Grant MacEwan College in the evening to train for a Master Coaching Bowling Certificate.

Special thanks go out to Dr. Klopper and staff, residents and Home Care staff at Pleasant Valley Lodge where he lived almost 4 years and to all the staff at Extendicare Athabasca.

In lieu of flowers, your donation can be made to Extendicare Athabasca or a charity of your choice. At Tony’s request, there will be no funeral service. 

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