Gordon Smith (Schmidt)

Gordon Otto Smith (Schmidt)

After a long courageous battle with cancer Gordon, at the age of 82, was called home on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

Gordon was born on September 27, 1930 at Langruth, MB. He started school in Langruth but at the age of 10 his family moved to Winnipeg. At the age of 15 he started working for Howard Smith Paper Mills. Independent Fish Company was his next employer where he made deliveries around the city. He helped sandbag during the 1950 flood in Winnipeg and after that he wanted to get out of the city so returned to the Amaranth area. He worked for his Uncle, Fred Brach, with a desire to farm. While working with Uncle Fred he purchased his first quarter of land.

In 1953 Gordon married Ida Roman and lived in the Amaranth area for the next several years. In 1958 they purchased a second quarter of land and moved to the Waldersee area where their farming career began. Their family also began there with Sylvia born in 1959 and Karen in 1963.Farming was not just a career for Gordon, it was his passion. The hours spent behind the wheel of his tractors or combine never seemed too long. Even in his retirement years he was ready and eager to help wherever he could. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, Sunday afternoon drives, curling, bowling and games of cards with family and friends. Gordon and Ida also enjoyed trips over the years. They travelled many times to Alberta for visits with family, they went to Florida, Hawaii, California, Mexico and most memorable, the trip to Europe. In later years Gordon started a new part-time career of seaming nets for local fishermen. They continued farming and seaming until 1998 when they retired and moved to Portage la Prairie. Through all of the years Gordon had been an active member of a faith community. As long as he was able he accepted any duties when called upon.

Gordon was predeceased by his mother Dorothy; father Otto; brothers Albert, Gustav, Harry, Arthur sisters Lillian and Shirley. Gordon will be sadly missed by his wife of 59 years, Ida; daughter Sylvia (David) Huyber of Langruth and their children Shannon (Jason), Michelle, and Brad; daughter Karen (Derek) Lawrence of Leduc, AB and their children Scott, Daniel and Alexander; sister Sharron; sisters-in-law Erma, Alma, Shirley; brothers-in-law Rudy (Kay), Julius (Evelyn) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service will be held at Portage Evangelical Church, Portage La Prairie, on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Glenn Loewen officiating, lunch will follow. Interment will follow at the family plot in the Waldersee Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations could be made to Central Plains Cancer Care Services, 318 Sask.Ave.E, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N OK8, Douglas Campbell Lodge Foundation, c/o Portage District General Hospital, 150-9th St.SE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3T6or a charity of one’s choice.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel  www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com