JOHANNES (JOE) SIGURDUR LAXDAL

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JOHANNES (JOE) SIGURDUR LAXDAL May 23, 1940 - August 11, 2006 It is with profound sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Joe at the Gimli Community Health Centre after a brief illness. Joe was predeceased by his son Bill and parents Marjorie and Sigurdur (Sam) Laxdal. Joe is survived by his wife of 47 years, Linda, daughter Nancy Nagy (Harold), daughter-in-law Patricia Laxdal (Bill Brown) and grandchildren Amanda, Eric, Paul, Pachito and Carlos; sister Arlene Laxdal (Pat Wellwood), brothers Brian (Donna) and Blair in addition to many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Joe was born in Winnipeg and grew up in the west end. His work career began in 1958 with Eaton's in Winnipeg as a copywriter and progressed through the advertising department in Saskatoon and Edmonton as manager until 1976 at which time he moved to Saskatoon to open his own business J. S. Laxdal and Associates, a communications business. In 1985 the Regina Leader Post welcomed Joe as Marketing Services manager, a position he held until 1996. While at the Leader Post, Joe became involved with many organizations such as The United Way, The Hospitals of Regina Foundation, Regina Crime Stoppers, The Leader Post Carrier Foundation, International Arabian Horse Association: Canadian Championships, Tourism Saskatchewan, International Newspaper Marketing Association, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce ABEX Awards, Regina Block Parents, Canadian Public Relations Society, Canadian Red Cross, Western Canada Summer Games, and extensive volunteerism with Tourism Regina. This experience and dedication lead to Joe becoming interim Executive Director of Tourism Regina for nine months. Recently he was proud to hear the RCMP National Museum would be located in Regina, a project he was passionate about, worked on and wrote the original proposal. Joe briefly did consulting work for Zacson Canada. In 1999 Joe relocated to Yorkton to fulfill the Executive Director position for The Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan. Under Joe's leadership, and through the generosity of the donors, Yorkton and area residents have benefited from new medical equipment, research projects, continuing education and the recent availability of services at The Multi Purpose Facility. This last year Joe was employed at Leon's Manufacturing Company Inc. as Marketing manager. Joe's passions were golf and football. A Saskatchewan Roughrider season ticket holder for over 20 years, he attended many Grey Cup games not only as a fan but also as a Regina ambassador. He shared his passion for golf with his grandchildren by starting them at a young age and looked forward to the summer season at the beach in Manitoba. In his youth, he played Junior hockey and later refereed football. He enjoyed curling and sat on the board at Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club, Winnipeg. A proud Icelander, Joe belonged to the Saskatoon and Regina Scandinavian Clubs and never missed the Islendingadagurinn Festival in Gimli, MB. He was a board member of the Icelandic newspaper Logberg Heimskringla. A devoted man, all throughout his life, Joe enjoyed gatherings with family and friends. His door was always open, and each holiday everyone looked forward to spending time with their husband, dad, brother, Afi or friend Joe. G a n tt Elskan A celebration of Joe's life will be held on Thursday, August 17, 1:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd., Winnipeg. Donations may be made to The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada, Box 88, Stn Main, Wpg., MB, R3G 2G1 or The Hemophilia Society, 944 Portage Ave., Wpg., MB, R3G 0R1 or The Health Foundation, 41 Betts Ave., Yorkton, SK, S3N 1M1 neil bardal inc. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 15, 2006