Many people in and around Tilbury are mourning the loss of a community leader.
Bert Rammelaere passed away on September 4, 2025, at the age of 90.
He had spent 11 years on the Tilbury East Township council before the area was amalgamated into what is now known as Chatham-Kent. Rammelaere spent three of the 11 years as the Township's reeve and another six as deputy reeve.
"A lot of people who are on various committees now owe their beginning to service to Bert because he worked with them and encouraged them," said Lynn Girty, a friend of Rammelaere.
When asked about what he'll remember most about Rammelaere, without skipping a beat, Girty mentioned his work ethic.
"(Bert) was a perfectionist, no matter what he did," he added.
Another person who saw Rammelaere's work ethic firsthand was Barry Fraser. The two met thanks to their many years in the area's agriculture sector.
Fraser couldn't help but remember everything Rammelaere had done for farmers not only in Chatham-Kent but across the province. This included working with various organizations, such as the Ontario Drainage Tribunal, the Ontario Grain Corn Council, the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board, and the Kent Soil and Crop Improvement Association.
"In my mind, he stood at the top of the heap when it came to unselfish achievement in the realm of agriculture and service to rural communities," said Fraser.
Rammelaere's work in the sector earned him a spot in the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame back in 2009.
A Celebration of his Life was held on Wednesday. In honour of Rammelaere, his family is asking people to donate to either the Victorian Order of Nurses - Chatham-Kent or the Tilbury Information and Help Centre.