ANTHONY "TONY" HERMAN COLENBRANDER
Anthony 'Tony' Herman Colenbrander passed away on February 18, 2026, at the age of 82. Born on May 24, 1943, in Breukelen, The Netherlands, Tony was the son of Jan and Miep Colenbrander. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings. Tony immigrated to Canada at the age of 10 with his mother and two sisters, settling in Hamilton where his brother was born. He went on to graduate at the top of his class and earn a degree in Engineering Physics and a PhD in Nuclear Physics from McMaster University. It was at McMaster that Tony met his future wife, Karen. After their Toronto wedding, they began their life together in Chicago, where Tony worked at Stewart Warner Electronics. The couple later settled in Mississauga, where Tony worked at Atomic Energy of Canada until 1986. He then founded his own company, Freedom Motors, where he employed innovative engineering and business skills to modify minivans for accessibility. Tony was a respected member of the industry and a dedicated family man. He was blessed with two children, John and Elaine, and later, a daughter-in-law, Tara, and two grandchildren, Leif and Clara. Tony delighted in each child, spending hours reading, teaching, and boating at the cottage. He was a tinkerer and a problem solver, always willing to direct his clients to a competitor's product if it was not perfectly suited to their needs. Tony is survived by his wife, Karen, and their family. Funeral arrangements will be handled by TURNER & PORTER NEWEDUK FUNERAL HOME.
