April 7, 1950 – January 27, 2026
Hendrik “Hank” Bylholt was born in The Netherlands and immigrated to Canada with his parents as a child. He grew up a proud St. James boy in Winnipeg, Manitoba, carrying those roots with him throughout his life.
Hank was married to the love of his life, Penny Bylholt, for 56 years. Together they built a life grounded in family, friendship, and community. He was a devoted father to his daughter, Cindy (Cynthia) Neil, and a proud father-in-law to Ken Neil. Nothing brought Hank more joy than his grandchildren, Mackenzie (Mackie) Neil and Kaiden Neil, who were the absolute light of his life.
Hank was predeceased by his parents, Hill and Liz Bylholt, and his brother, Eppo Bylholt.
He will be deeply missed by many, including his cousin and best friend, Bert, and Bert’s wife, Henriette, whose friendship meant so much to him throughout his life.
Hank was loved by many and known for his warmth, generosity, and unmistakable sense of cool. He carried himself with an easy swagger and a quiet confidence that made people lean in. He loved spinning a tale, delivering stories in a subtle way that left you smiling, never quite sure what was true and what was embellished—and that was part of the joy. A small grin and a lil’ chuckle often gave him away.
Hank spent some of the best years of his life in Ile des Chenes, where he was an active and engaged community member. He believed deeply in showing up for others, sharing stories, and enjoying good company—often over food and a drink.
A come-and-go celebration of life will be held on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the TC Energy Centre in Ile des Chenes (1 Rivard St., Ile des Chenes, MB), from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Please come by, have a drink, enjoy lunch (on Hank), and share a memory. If you leave smiling—or slightly unsure about one of the stories—Hank would be laughing.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Hendrik’s memorial page using the comment field below.
Hank and Penny for some reason I ended up at your place after allot of Elks hockey games. Was always a fun time. Glad to have the memories too look back on. So sorry for your loss Penny and Cynthia. He will be missed🧡🦅
My heart goes out to my Auntie Penny , Cindy and family…I loved my Uncle Hank, he was the coolest:) I always thought he was the Dutch Fonzy.He made Christmases memorable by dressing up as Santa….. Both he, my Auntie Penny and Cindy made my childhood fun. I cherish my memories…. God bless you….Love you all❤️
Dear Hank,
my cousin what a wonderful person you were.
My first encounter with you was, if I’m not mistaken, in 1977. I was 8 years old, and you, my eldest cousin, were 27, married with a daughter, Cindy. We were on vacation with your parents, your dear parents, and my uncle and aunt. At that time, I was overwhelmed by everything that came my way as an 8-year-old boy from Holland. I still remember well that you often came to visit us. And even then, we visited Iles des Chenes, where you lived. We always received a warm welcome. You, Penny, and Cindy were involved. You radiated warmth and felt seen.
We saw each other again in 1988. I was 19 by then, with my diploma in hand, and I’d packed my bags and left for Canada. If I’m not mistaken, I was there for six weeks, alternating between your parents and yours on Iles de Chenes. What a time that was. I remember the long evenings and nights spent outdoors, long conversations about subjects that were difficult for me at the time. You and Penny listened, understood me, and gave me advice. I thought then, “You two are so incredibly sweet.” Besides the wonderful conversations, we also laughed heartily about special things. Hank, we shared the same sense of humor, Dutch humor that you had become somewhat alienated from but hadn’t lost. One of my memories. The two of us were walking downtown on our way to a record store. On the sidewalk stood a small, somewhat older man sweeping the street. You told me he was a street cleaner for the city. I said to you, “Hank, he looks just like an uncle of ours in Holland.” You laughed and thought I was joking. I managed to convince you to put your arm around the man so I could take a picture of you and your look-alike uncle from Holland. You did, and I took the picture, which I still have, by the way. We walked on, and you asked me, “Does he really look like Bert?” I said no, I don’t know our uncles in Holland. We stood still and laughed heartily, tears streaming down our cheeks. We had a wonderful time; you showed me so much and let me experience it. Beautiful moments, days, weeks, months, where I felt such a strong connection with you and Penny. You made my presence special through your closeness. The day I had to go back to Holland, I was terrified; you, your parents, were taking me to the airport. I had so much trouble letting you go; I cried as we said goodbye. I realized what I had to let go of, and I didn’t know at that moment if it would last forever. Whether I would see you again in the future was difficult and etched in my memory. You were special to me, Hank. I really hoped you knew that and that I had told you so.
Once again, the years passed. I saw your parents almost every two years; the bond with them only grew stronger. And so did the bond with you. Your parents always told stories about you, Penny, and Cindy. I loved that so much, and I could always picture it. I had my memories of you, and your parents’ stories kept our bond as cousins far apart. I knew your parents did the same when they were back in Canada. That’s how you heard stories about me.
In 2002, we saw each other again. Nothing had changed; the connection with each other was as if time had stood still. It seemed and felt as if 1988 was just behind us. We picked up where we left off, as if the moment of goodbye and the uncertainty of whether we’d see each other again had never happened. Back in 2002, I had Henriette with me; she, too, felt comfortable and at home with you. We had a wonderful trip through Canada together, the four of us, shared beautiful moments, and laughed a lot.
I’ll carry these wonderful memories with me, just as I carry you with me. Dear Hank, you were a beautiful person with a heart in the right place.
I’m proud and grateful to be your cousin.
Lots of love dear Hank
Bert