May 5, 1944 - December 9, 2025
Bradenton, Florida - Surrounded by his family, Harry John Bakker of Bradenton, FL, went to be with the Lord on December 9, 2025. Diagnosed in late October, Harry's bout with pancreatic cancer was both an unwelcome surprise and mercifully quick. Immediately prior to his diagnosis, he had engaged in his typically active lifestyle, crossing off bucket list trips like an Alaskan Cruise with his family in July and a rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon in September, traveling to Canada to see his family in October, planning other trips, playing ice hockey, and meeting friends for pickleball several times a week.
Harry was born on May 5, 1944 in Groningen, The Netherlands, to Willem and Johanna Bakker. His family moved to Clinton, Ontario in 1951, where he met and married his wife, Betty Bakker, on December 9, 1967. Harry and Betty moved with their family from Canada to Bradenton, FL in 1977. He was engaged in various business pursuits in Bradenton, including several commercial real estate developments and owning and running TrailMate, Inc. for over 40 years before he retired a few years ago.
He is survived by his children Mark (and Tara) Bakker of Greenville, South Carolina, and their children Talmage Bakker, Baines Bakker, and Zeb Bakker; Conrad (and Ashlee McLaughlin) Bakker, of Urbana, IL and their children Quillin (and Noah) Hopkins and their son (and Harry's great grandson) Bram, Saskia Bakker, and Leo Bakker; Ben (and Kristin) Bakker of Bradenton, FL and their children Cadence Bakker and Harrison Bakker; and Andrew Bakker, of Bradenton, FL. Harry faced death confident in his faith, knowing he would be reunited with Betty, who died in October 2015; his prematurely born daughter Leona; his parents; his brothers Bert, Paul, and Ralph; his sister Anne; and his sister-in-law Irene. He is also survived by his brothers Wilmar (and Melinda) Bakker and Bernie Bakker (and Jane Kapteyn), his sisters-in-law Ellen Bakker, Lory Bakker, and Diane Bakker, his brother-in-law Bill (and Margaretha) Helmus, and many nephews and nieces.
Harry was loved and admired for his persistence, work ethic, and generosity. There will be a memorial service and celebration of life on December 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Bradenton Christian Reformed Church (4208 26th St. W. Bradenton, FL 34205), where he was a member for nearly 50 years. For those interested in watching the service but cannot attend, the church will set up a livestream link. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Manasota SOLVE Maternity Homes (www.SOLVEhomes.org).
