Businessman missing as Dutch Canadians out millions Toronto Star
JOHN KOLKMAN arrived from Holland in 1953 only three months married, with nothing but a suitcase and a few pots and pans. Through the years he saved $229,000 as a journeyman carpenter and left it all in Snoek’s hands for safekeeping and investment. When his wife Margaret died in January, Kolkman, 86, had to take out a $6,000 loan to pay for the funeral.
“I am hurt,” he said, sitting in his Bradford home. “But at the moment, I have a bigger loss.”
Snoek’s scheme has also ensnared a Guelph-based charity, the Canadian Christian Education Foundation, which lost $356,000. Snoek’s aunt Toeky in the Netherlands says her nephew won’t return calls and letters to explain what he did with her $250,000.
In February, after decades of hard work and entrusting Snoek with more than $100,000, Gerald Korten, 75, put his farmhouse up for sale.
“I don’t want to be forced off this land,” said Korten, who emigrated from Aalten, Holland when he was 16. “I figured I would live on this money. I call Harry, but can’t get a hold of him.”
